Australia Approves $1.26B Pumped Hydro and Solar Project

The New South Wales government in Australia approved Yancoal Australia’s A$1.8 billion ($1.26 billion) Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project. The facility will be built on the site of the former Stratford Mining Complex in the Gloucester Valley, approximately 100km north of Newcastle.

Gloucester Coal, a Yancoal subsidiary, plans to construct a 300MW pumped hydro power station capable of 12 hours of storage, alongside a 320MW solar plant. The project aims to repurpose land previously used for coal mining, operations ceased in 2024, into a renewable energy hub.

It will utilize a tunnel to move water between a new upper reservoir and an existing dam, initially sourcing water from the former mine site, to store excess electricity for peak demand. The Stratford project is expected to contribute roughly 13% to New South Wales’ 2034 long-duration energy storage goal and create up to 350 jobs during construction. The NSW government identified the project as Critical State Significant Infrastructure as part of its plan to diversify energy sources and move away from coal.