ANDRITZ to supply electro-mechanical equipment and maintenance service for one of the world’s first co-located solar pumped storage plants in Australia

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from the EPC contractors McConnell Dowell and John Holland to supply the electro-mechanical equipment for the 250-MW Kidston pumped storage plant in North Queensland, Australia.

Open pits from an abandoned gold mine Genex Power Ltd

Kidston will not only be Australia’s first pumped storage plant for more than 40 years, but also one of the world’s first to be co-located with a solar plant. The owner and developer of Kidston is Genex Power. Commissioning of the plant is expected in 2024.

The ANDRITZ scope of supply comprises design, manufacturing, supply, transportation, erection, and commissioning of two 125-MW reversible pump turbine units as well as full operation and maintenance services for more than 10 years.

The pumped storage plant was developed in a unique location by utilizing two open pits from an abandoned gold mine. Once filled up with water, it will operate as a closed-loop system and generate, store and dispatch renewable energy on demand during peak periods, capable of supplying enough sustainable and clean electrical energy for more than 280,000 Australian households. Additionally, the plant can be operated in a synchronous condenser mode to provide grid services such as reactive power management and synchronous inertia.

This order not only confirms once again ANDRITZ’s strong position in the Australian hydropower market, but also for pumped storage technology, which plays an important role in providing grid stability to cope with volatile solar and wind power supplies. The combination of hydro equipment supplies with state-of-the-art asset management services is also strong proof of ANDRITZ’s well diversified product and service portfolio for all applications and demands in the hydropower business.

www.andritz.com

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