News

BIG RIG DRAWS BIG CROWD

14/10/2025

More than 1500 people converged on Cooma on Sunday, October 12 to welcome the latest Snowy 2.0 big rig – one of the largest traffic loads ever transported in NSW.

The main drive of TBM Monica – an integral component of the project’s fourth mega borer – drew an excited crowd of onlookers to Cooma town centre.

Spectators also flanked driveways and homes between Bredbo and Adaminaby to catch a glimpse of the big rig.

The convoy tipped the scales at a mammoth weight of more than 450 tonnes – across five trucks and a trailer, driven by 210 wheels across 35 separate axles.

Snowy Hydro Head of Social Impact and Community Sarah Norris described the transfer as a major milestone for both the project and the community.

“We were blown away by the attendance – it was a truly special evening, with an incredible atmosphere, as people lined the footpaths for the best vantage point to watch,” she said.

“It almost felt like a festival was taking place – we had free hot choccies and coffees and talented musician Leon Fallon on-hand to keep the crowd entertained

“Thanks to everyone who attended, we appreciate there were quite a few little people that stayed up past their bedtimes to witness a little piece of Snowy history.”

The mega transfer evoked memories for some community members of the mighty Thornycroft Antars hauling machinery and construction equipment through Cooma as part of the original Snowy Scheme decades ago.

There are 23 oversize loads being carefully planned and transported to Snowy 2.0 sites over the coming weeks associated with the assembly of TBM Monica.

News

SNOWY HYDRO AND AKAYSHA ENERGY SIGN LANDMARK 15-YEAR VIRTUAL TOLL AGREEMENT FOR ELAINE BESS

24/09/2025

Snowy Hydro and Akaysha Energy today have announced a landmark 15-year virtual toll agreement with Akaysha Energy for the 311 megawatt Elaine Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Victoria.

This 15-year agreement is Snowy Hydro’s first battery toll agreement. With a contracted capacity of 220 megawatts, it is the largest four-hour virtual toll agreement in Australia, setting a precedent for the sector.

Snowy Hydro Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Barnes said the partnership marks a significant step in supporting Australia’s renewable energy transition.

“Snowy’s unique portfolio of on-demand power stations and electricity storage is the key to the strength of our contribution to reliable electricity supply to homes and businesses and to the introduction of more wind and solar across the grid,” Mr Barnes said.

“This deal with Akaysha adds a new short-duration storage layer to our portfolio, which will work hand-in-hand with the long-duration storage capabilities of our pumped hydro assets”.

Akaysha Energy Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Curnow, said: “This agreement represents a step change in the way large-scale storage can be delivered to the market and showcases strong market confidence in the value of BESS as a long-term energy solution.

“By partnering with Snowy Hydro, we’re demonstrating how flexible, long-term virtual toll agreements can unlock major battery projects and deliver value in the wholesale energy market.”

The agreement will strengthen Snowy’s ability to help manage wholesale market volatility while enhancing its product offerings to mass-market, large-scale commercial and industrial, and wholesale customers.

For Snowy, the toll structure delivers the benefits of physically building and operating a battery, without the capital, construction and operational burden, making it a highly capital-efficient solution.

The Elaine BESS is strategically located in South West Victoria, being relatively close to the large load centre of Melbourne and providing Snowy with transmission diversification benefits. The development of the Elaine BESS helps support reliable electricity supply to Victoria.

It will help Snowy manage transmission outage risks and support the integration of more wind and solar into the National Electricity Market (NEM).

News

SNOWY 2.0 STUDY DEEPENS ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING

25/08/2025

An extensive archaeological technical study carried out across Snowy 2.0 project sites has deepened our understanding of Aboriginal and European occupation in the Snowy Mountains.

Excavation carried out by NSW Archaeology principal archaeologist Julie Dibden found more than 35,000 indigenous stone artefacts across 782sqm at Lobs Hole, Tantangara and Marica work fronts.

The report has found “Aboriginal occupation was not only intense and widespread, but systematic and strategic”.

“The mountains provided people with a resource rich landscape with a mosaic of different environments, each with an abundance and diversity of fauna and plants for food and other material needs,” the report read.

“In addition, the woodlands and forests provided wood for fire … suitable stone for satisfying material and technological need (was) also plentiful.”

The majority of the artefacts found were:

flakes and flake fragments
hammer stones
anvils
mortar stones.

The findings indicate the Lobs Hole valley, with plentiful nearby resources, was used as a repeated base camp for family groups and large gatherings.

Stone shaping – known as knapping – and vegetable handling also occurred.

Hammer stones were found in the valley, demonstrating certain heavy tools were left in place for later use rather than being carried around the steep terrain.

The distribution of artefacts in the Tantangara area shows there were repeated visits by families and small groups over an extended period of time, reflective of its harsher climate.

Community consultation sessions

The report has made a number of recommendations that will be shared at two Aboriginal community consultation sessions in Tumut and Cooma for further discussion.

All Aboriginal community members with a cultural connection to the Snowy 2.0 project sites (Lobs Hole, Tantangara and Marica) are invited to attend.

News

KEEPING OUR TRAIL SAFE: IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR CYCLISTS AND TRAIL USERS

11/07/2025

Snowy Hydro and Snowy Monaro Regional Council are working together to improve safety on the Jindabyne Shared Trail along the Jindabyne Dam Wall following community feedback. An independent risk assessment identified a safety risk due to the low guardrail in this area, especially for cyclists who don’t dismount, as required by existing safety measures including barriers and signage.

What’s Changing?
To help keep everyone safe, the current safety measures are temporarily being strengthened, including new barriers and updated signage. This will be installed across the Dam Wall, including in the identified high-risk section. Cycling across the Dam Wall will temporarily be restricted. Pedestrian access will remain open during this time.

What’s next?
Snowy Hydro is working closely with Snowy Monaro Regional Council to manage safety risks and ensure the trail remains a valued part of our community, while also meeting operational requirements for Jindabyne Dam.We’re committed to keeping this temporary solution in place for as short a time as possible and we’re already working with the relevant stakeholders to design a long-term fix that supports both safe trail use and dam operations.

News

NRMA DRIVES TOWARDS A RENEWABLE FUTURE WITH SNOWY ENERGY

01/07/2025

Snowy Energy and the NRMA today announced a significant three-year electricity contract to power operations across four Australian states with 100% matched renewable energy.

Commencing on 1 January 2026, the NRMA’s businesses across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory will be powered by Snowy Energy’s TrueGreen 100 per cent matched renewable electricity product.

Snowy Energy is the large commercial and industrial (C&I) retail brand of Snowy Hydro. It offers Australian businesses access to innovative, market-leading products and solutions that support them on their decarbonisation journey.

Snowy Hydro’s Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Barnes said the NRMA is supporting regional renewable energy generation across Snowy’s diverse portfolio of assets, including hydro generation from the iconic Snowy Scheme, and contracted wind and solar projects.

“The partnership with NRMA highlights the growing demand from large commercial and industrial customers who are seeking renewable energy solutions.”

The NRMA is currently using 100% renewables for its EV charging network and from January 2026 will extend this commitment to match renewables to power the entire NRMA group, including NRMA’s corporate offices, network of NRMA Parks & Resorts locations and Sixt car rental sites.

NRMA Group Chief Executive Officer Rohan Lund said: “The NRMA is committed to meeting its 2030 climate targets and this partnership with Snowy Energy allows us to take a significant step towards that goal.”

“It’s vital that we continue to power the national EV charging network we are building with renewable energy and we are proud to be leading the way with our holiday parks and resorts.”

NRMA is partnering with the Federal Government to build Australia’s national charging backbone and is expected to deliver 800 charging points across 250 fast charging sites by 2027. The organisation set a target of 100 per cent renewable energy across the group by 2027 – now expected to be achieved one year early in 2026.

News

SNOWY 2.0 PROJECT UPDATE

28/03/2025

Work on Australia’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy 2.0, continues with good progress across multiple work fronts, despite recent work stoppages.

Across Snowy 2.0, recent progress of note includes:

POWER STATION CAVERNS

Development of the Snowy 2.0 power station complex is progressing well, with excavation and installation of rock support within the caverns more than 35% complete.
The transformer hall is now almost 50% excavated by volume and the machine hall is now 28 metres deep.
The drill and blast tunnels providing access to various levels within the caverns, and other parts of the power station complex are more than 93% complete.
Excavation of the 266 metre-long collector waterway tunnels, which will pass water from the power station to the tailrace tunnel and onto Talbingo reservoir, is 80% complete.

UPPER RESERVOIR INTAKE

A 40-metre high tower crane is assisting with construction logistics in the Tantangara intake pit, where the project’s first permanent concrete structures are being built. More than 6,600 cubic metres of concrete have been poured so far.

LOWER RESERVOIR INTAKE

A total of 370 metres has been excavated from both ends of the connection tunnel which is 825 metres long and will create a connection between the Talbingo intake structure and the tailrace tunnel.
A 70-metre tower crane has been installed to lift heavy equipment and materials in and out of the intake pit.

MARICA SURGE SHAFT

Excavation of the 240 metre deep and 28 metre wide Marica surge shaft has passed 151 metres.
The shaft will provide water storage when Snowy 2.0’s power station starts up. When the station is shutting down, the Marica surge shaft will also provide pressure relief in the headrace tunnel. When completed, it will be one of the widest and deepest operational shafts in the world.

DOWNSTREAM SURGE SHAFT

Excavation of the upper chamber for the downstream surge shaft is 68% complete. This shaft will be approximately 200m high and provide water storage when the power station starts up in pumping mode and pressure relief in the tailrace tunnel when the power station starts in generation mode.

TUNNEL BORING MACHINES (TBMs)
Florence

TBM Florence is excavating the 17-kilometre headrace tunnel, which will connect the underground power station to the upper Tantangara reservoir.
The machine is now more than 3.0-kilometres into the headrace tunnel.

Lady Eileen Hudson

TBM Lady Eileen Hudson is excavating the 6-kilometre tailrace tunnel, which will connect the underground power station to the lower Talbingo reservoir.
The machine has now completed 85% of the tailrace tunnel, having already completed the 2.85-kilometre main access tunnel. This tunnel is now being used by workers to access the power station caverns.

Kirsten

TBM Kirsten is excavating the very steep, 1.6-kilometre Inclined Pressure Shaft (IPS) connecting the underground power station to the headrace tunnel.
The machine has excavated 14% of the shaft to date.
We expect the performance of our tunnel boring machines to continue to vary in line with ground conditions.

TBM4

In December 2024, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure approved Snowy Hydro’s application to deploy a fourth tunnel boring machine. The machine will help protect the delivery timeline by boosting the project’s ability to tunnel through a complex geological fault zone.
Work to prepare for the launch of the machine is underway. It is set to begin excavation by the end of 2025.

RESTART AFTER WORK STOPPAGES

Underground work on Snowy 2.0 has been progressively restarting over the last two weeks. Operations for all three tunnel boring machines are underway, as well as power station drill and blast cavern excavation.
Above ground work was not impacted and continued throughout the period underground work was stopped.

News

SNOWY 2.0 SAFETY INCIDENT

27/02/2025

Following a serious safety incident at Snowy 2.0, Snowy Hydro will seek an immediate independent safety review and audit, and will require changes to principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture’s (FGJV) leadership on the project.

These actions follow an underground fan failing and losing part of its blade on Tuesday morning. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Underground work was stopped to allow inspection of all fans. FGJV will work with SafeWork NSW to ensure they are safe, with the aim of progressively restarting work.

Nothing is more important to Snowy Hydro than safety. Recent safety concerns at Snowy 2.0 have made it clear that as the client, our assurance role over FGJV’s activities requires this intervention.

We’re committed to working with our workforce and unions to ensure that the safety standards we expect are in place at Snowy 2.0.

News

SNOWY HYDRO RELEASES 2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

13/01/2025

Snowy Hydro has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, covering the progress the energy generator and retailer has made in areas such as environmental stewardship, social impact, and understanding and responding to its carbon emissions and climate risks.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the report reflects the company’s role in enabling Australia’s transition to renewable energy, while highlighting its progress and ambitions.

“At Snowy Hydro, we understand that sustainability goes beyond fulfilling our environmental commitments,” Mr Barnes said.

“It’s about supporting our people, driving better diversity outcomes and making a positive difference to the communities we serve.

“The 2024 report shows the progress we are making and achievements we are proud of. While we recognise there is still more to do, this report serves as our roadmap, keeping us accountable and focused on delivering even better outcomes for stakeholders and the community in the future,” Mr Barnes said.

Mr Barnes also acknowledged Snowy Hydro’s responsibility as custodian of the water that flows through the Snowy Scheme, highlighting its role in balancing electricity network reliability, with the irrigation needs of farmers and other water users.

Key sustainability achievements in the 2023/2024 financial year include:

Producing 3,937 GWh of renewable electricity from our hydro generation assets – enough energy to power around 600,000 homes for a year.
Growing our mass market retail brands business to 1.4 million customers, with a focus on delivering authentic, personal customer service.
Our retail brand Red Energy recognised with the Customer Satisfaction Award for the 14th year in a row
7,958 students benefitting from Snowy STEM Academy programs
Keeping our people safe, reflected in our low Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate (TRIFR) score
Delivering five events of 8-hour peak water flows from Jindabyne reservoir to improve the health of the Snowy River ecosystem
Maintaining outstanding reliability across our generation assets, with our hydro generators starting successfully 99.7 per cent of the time, and gas 98.5 per cent of the time, underpinning our ability to contribute to stable electricity supply
$557,000 spent through our community giving programs
Increasing the proportion of women in senior leadership roles
$320,000 of funding for Murray River rehabilitation work to maintain waterflow and prevent erosion

Snowy Hydro is the third largest generator of electricity in Australia by capacity. We can generate 5,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity across eight hydroelectric power stations, three natural gas power stations, and four diesel power stations.

Snowy 2.0 and the Hunter Power Project are set to deliver 2,860MW of additional capacity. This significant boost to the network’s capacity will make a meaningful difference to energy supply reliability, particularly on hot days in summer.

When these fast-start generating assets come online, they will enable further wind and solar generation that can displace more than 33 million tonnes of CO₂-e per annum.

This carbon emissions displacement would represent a 28 percent reduction in the National Electricity Market emissions from 2022 levels, and approximately 13 percent of Australia’s 2030 total emissions reduction target.

To learn more about Snowy Hydro’s sustainability journey and access the 2024 report, visit https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Snowy-Hydro_2024-Sustainability-Report.pdf.

News

HUNTER POWER PROJECT UPDATE

16/12/2024

Testing and commissioning of Snowy Hydro’s fourth fast-start, on demand gas power station has now begun.

This first phase of commissioning involves pressure testing the Hunter Power Project’s (HPP) approximately 23 kilometre network of pipe infrastructure that will deliver gas, diesel and water to the station’s generators.

Using the latest technology the world’s best manufacturers can offer, HPP will be powered by two of the most gas-efficient turbines available and will be capable of delivering 660 megawatts of electricity to the grid. This significant amount of power will make a meaningful difference to supply reliability, helping the network cope during hot weather and outages of transmission lines and other power stations.

As more wind and solar enters the electricity grid, HPP will play a critical role by providing back-up power to homes and businesses.This means that while HPP is only expected to run around 5 percent of the time, it will enable around 2 gigawatts of renewable energy to be added to the grid, which is the equivalent of displacing around 5 million tonnes of CO2-e every year¹.

PHASED COMMISSIONING

Alongside the pipe pressure tests, HPP’s switching station, which was built by Snowy Hydro as part of the project but handed over to Ausgrid to operate, will be connected to provide the power station with energy from the grid. Testing will then progress to commissioning the first of HPP’s two turbines and generators.

Pending a smooth process, the first turbine and generator is expected to reach full commercial operation by the end of April 2025. Commissioning of the second turbine and generator will follow, with commercial operation of both turbines and generators expected by the end of June 2025.

Depending on commissioning outcomes, there is a possibility of either turbine being available to provide some power to the grid sooner. These target dates are dependent on the commissioning program not being impacted by weather or other factors.

VALUE AND COST

HPP has experienced extended periods of extreme weather and other factors that have stopped work on the project, impacting its timeline. As flagged in the August 2024 project update, HPP’s cost has been impacted in order to minimise the delay in its completion, so HPP can produce power for the network as soon as possible.

Prioritising power availability means the final cost of HPP is expected to be around $1.3 billion, dependent on a smooth transition to commercial operation without delays from weather or other factors.

Despite the change in cost, the strength of HPP’s economic benefit has increased. HPP’s net present value (NPV), has increased to $914 million from $531 million at the March 2021 final investment decision².

This increase in HPP’s economic value has been largely driven by:

more wind and solar generation in the grid increasing the need for HPP to provide on-demand, back-up energy to boost electricity reliability;
a substantial increase in HPP’s gas storage capacity to 70TJ from 43TJ;
HPP’s contribution to managing transmission risk between Sydney and the Snowy Hydroelectric Scheme in the Snowy Mountains, by providing an alternative electricity source for Australia’s largest economy in the event of transmission outages.

LOCAL BENEFITS

The project is delivering substantial jobs and investment benefits to the Hunter region:

To promote interest in STEM career paths and education, HPP’s team has engaged with local students through career expos and presentations, including through partnerships with the Clontarf Foundation in Kurri Kurri, Youth Express and Training Services NSW.

$751 million spent domestically, with $619 million spent in the local Hunter region.

57% of HPP’s workforce are local residents.

20 apprentices are engaged on the project, providing skill development in the Hunter region.

Over $175,000 has been awarded to 39 local projects through the HPP Community Grants Program.

Over $26,000 has been granted to Cessnock LGA schools through the Snowy Hydro Local Schools STEM Fund in 2024.

¹Assumes every 1 MW of dispatchable capacity from HPP enables 3 MW of variable renewable capacity and displaces thermal generation with a carbon intensity of 0.94 t/CO2-e/MWh. Scope 1 emissions from HPP are estimated to be approximately 0.14 million tonnes of CO2-e per annum based on a carbon intensity of 0.52 t/CO2-e/MWh.

²NPVs discounted to March 2021.

News

STATEMENT: HUNTER POWER PROJECT UPDATE

27/08/2024

Development of Snowy Hydro’s fourth fast-start, on-demand gas power station, the Hunter Power Project (HPP), is entering its final phase.

Snowy Hydro’s investment in the HPP will play an important role as coal plants close. With 660MW of available dispatchable capacity, supported by 34 hours of onsite fuel storage from 70 terajoules (TJ) of gas and 3.6 million litres of diesel, HPP will be capable of enabling approximately 2 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable capacity*.

Gas-powered electricity generation will remain critical to enabling Australia’s renewable energy transition and meeting peak demand in what is a highly seasonal market. As more renewables come online, the fast-deployment capability of gas will be essential to ensuring power is still available to homes and businesses when wind and sunlight is not.

Since the reset of HPP in August 2023, there has been significant construction progress, with completion of all major civil works onsite and installation and alignment of critical turbine and generator parts.

Power Islands

The Power Islands house the gas turbines and generators that produce electricity. Connecting the major electrical components is expected to be finalised by September 2024.

Balance of Plant

Balance of Plant are the systems that provide essential support systems to the Power Islands, such as diesel, water, fire systems, and air. Key milestones include the completion of four large tanks and the start of diesel system testing.

Kurri North Switching Station (KNSS)

Built by Snowy Hydro, the KNSS will be owned and managed by Ausgrid and will supply electricity generated by HPP to the NSW grid when needed. The station’s main electrical components are now installed, with handover to Ausgrid imminent.
Since June 2024 an additional 12 apprenticeship positions have been established in trades such as electrical, mechanical and boilermaker. With a peak workforce of approximately 600 (including 60% from the local area), HPP continues to contribute to skills development and job readiness in the Hunter region.

Extended periods of inclement weather over the past year have impacted the project’s schedule. In order for HPP to be producing some power for the electricity network as soon as possible, we have prioritised schedule, which will impact the final cost.

HPP is due to come online in December 2024, with the start of its testing and commissioning phase of one of its two generators on diesel fuel. When operating on diesel each unit is capable of generating 283MW. This is the quickest path to ensuring HPP is available to provide power to the electricity network, which will occur as soon as possible after testing is complete. We will sequence the commissioning of the second unit and the introduction of gas. We expect HPP to be fully operational, with both generators able to operate on both fuels, in the few months following the start of testing.

The exact timing of each of the phases during this period will depend on how commissioning of each stage goes.

When HPP is in full operation it will operate on gas for the vast majority of the time, with diesel only used as a back-up fuel.

[Ends]

*Snowy Hydro, Sustainability Report 2023 (page 19)

News

TBM FLORENCE UPDATE

16/05/2024

Tunnel boring machine Florence has been ramping up excavating the Snowy 2.0 headrace tunnel, recently reaching 12 metres per day for a period.

With progress slowing in very hard rock on Wednesday 15 May, today (16 May) the Snowy 2.0 project team ceased excavation by the TBM due to rock pinching on the machine’s shield.

We are currently investigating the best way to relieve this pressure prior to recommencing excavation.

News

STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM SNOWY HYDRO LOCAL SCHOOL STEM FUND

26/06/2023

Hundreds of students across 18 Snowy Mountains schools will benefit from Snowy Hydro’s inaugural Local School STEM Fund program. The 2023 funding has been allocated to both primary and secondary from public and private schools to provide students with hands-on interactive experiences, challenging their creativity and critical thinking.

Through the program, Snowy Hydro has supported a varied range of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) initiatives, including an aquaponics project, 3D printers, a First Nations Science Camp, upgrades to equipment in science classrooms, development of a robotics club, enhancement of resources, the establishment and expansion of school programs and clubs, and the launch of various projects such as a sustainable garden and a township design.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the collaboration with local schools will encourage and promote problem-solving skills for students, both in and out of the classroom and assist their career pathways.

“The funding is just one example of Snowy Hydro’s ongoing commitment to education and development in support of STEM, particularly among our local communities,” Dennis said.

The real-world application of STEM allows students to interact with the subject material and develop a diverse range of skill sets. By seeing the outcomes of STEM throughout their lives and assessing the outcomes for themselves, their schools, community and surrounding environments, a unique and engaging learning space is created.

Dennis said he was proud to announce the Local School STEM fund was “supporting schools in 10 locations, providing approximately $160,000 of funding to contribute to the growth of local students.”

The outcomes of the funded initiatives will assist students with the understanding of sustainability, combine ancient knowledge and modern technology, build on existing STEM skills, develop critical thinking, strengthen student confidence and promote the balance of research and design.

To further engagement and involvement with education, Snowy Hydro is committed to continuing this beneficial program. The next round of applications will open in February 2024.

For more information about Snowy Hydro’s Local School STEM Fund visit:

https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/local-school-stem-fund-2/