Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage

The Capricornia Energy Hub will comprise of three components – pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), a wind farm and a solar farm.

The Capricornia Energy Hub pumped hydroelectric energy storage is a proposed 750MW pump/generation facility with a storage capacity of 16 hours and a water transfer volume of 18 GL. The project is located approximately 80km west of Mackay on two large rural landholdings near the existing Eungella Dam.

The PHES and associated infrastructure will create approximately 600 jobs during peak construction and 65 jobs during operations, some of which may be located outside of the local area.

The project will contribute toward local, state and federal government policies and goals relating to greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy generation, the transformation of the electricity network, affordable energy and local employment.

The project will comprise two reservoirs: the upper being a valley fill reservoir and the lower being an in-stream reservoir in the Broken River. There will also be a powerhouse, tunnels or pipes linking the reservoirs and the powerhouse, and a transmission line and substation. The transmission line route has not yet been finalised.

The Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Scheme is now a Coordinated Project. You can learn about what that means on the Office of the Coordinator General website here: