Hydropower Plants in Australia

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As Australia’s largest renewable energy resource, hydropower is a driving force in the clean energy space.

This Canstar Blue article discusses how hydroelectric energy works, where Australia’s hydropower stations are and what the offer the National Energy Market.

How does hydropower work?

Hydropower works through pressure — namely using the force of water to spin a turbine that generates electricity. Water is released from a hydroelectric dam, which upon impact spins a turbine at the base of the infrastructure that is connected to a generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy that can be shifted into the grid system.

The amount of electricity produced by this process depends on factors such as the amount of flowing water released, and the height from which it falls. A benefit of most hydropower plants is that energy generation can be controlled using pumped storage — hydropower plants can be put to use during peak times to make up for any shortages in traditional coal-fired electricity generation.

Hydropower plants in Australia

While there are more than 120 power stations currently operating in Australia, most have a relatively modest output. We’ve listed all of the operational hydropower plants in the country with a capacity of over 50MW in ascending capacity order.

Australian hydropower station location, capacity and ownership

There are currently 34 hydro power plants operating across Australia according to the Open Infrastructure Map. These hydro power plants are located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.

Here is a list of the hydro power plants currently in operation:

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Source: Open Infrastructure Map

Types of hydropower plants

There are three types of hydropower facilities: diversion, impoundment and pumped storage. Not all hydropower plants use dams.

Diversion hydropower plants

A diversion plant utilises a rivers natural river bed decline to produce electricity. A run-of-river, or diversion plant, forces some of the river through a canal and/or penstock that then goes to turbines.

Impoundment hydropower plants

An impoundment facility uses a dam to store water in a reservoir. Water gets released from the reservoir which then flows through a turbine causing it to spin, activating a generator that produces electricity.

Pumped storage hydropower plants

A pumped storage hydropower plant store energy like a battery, by pumping water from a lower reservoir to a high reservoir. When electricity use is at its peak, the higher reservoir releases water back to the lower reservoir which then turns a turbine.

What is hydropower in Australia?

According to the Clean Energy Council, 8.5GW of hydropower assets are currently in operation across Australia. 50GW of large-scale renewable generation is needed by 2040 to replace retiring coal-fired power stations. Since the introduction of hydropower to Australia in 1895, this mode of electricity production has grown to meet 6.4% of Australia’s total energy needs.

Currently, 90% of Australia’s hydropower generation comes from hydropower plants over 30-years-old, with the average operating age of hydropower plants being 50 years.

What is the biggest hydropower plant in Australia?

The largest hydroelectric power station in Australia, as of July 2024, is run by Snowy Hydro.

With several power stations in its southern NSW network, the Snowy Hydro scheme currently holds a total capacity of around 5,500 megawatts, according to its website. Snowy 2.0 is a significant expansion designed to address the growing demand for clean and reliable energy. This project will add 2,000MW to Snowy Hydro’s generation. It boasts a large-scale energy storage capability of 350,000 megawatt hours, which translates to enough stored energy to power 500,000 homes simultaneously.

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What was the first hydropower plant in Australia?

Hydropower is a renewable energy generation method that’s been around for quite a while, dating back to as early as the 1800s in Australia. A small town in rural Qld called Thargomindah was the first to produce hydroelectric power for street lighting using water pressure from the Artesian Basin. This was done by attaching generators to a water turbine driven by a bore water pressure. The hydropower plant lasted until 1951, at which time diesel generators were installed. Thargomindah was then connected to the grid in 1988.

How reliable is hydropower?

Hydropower is considered a reliable source of energy and will play an important role in Australia’s shift towards more sustainable power sources. The Clean Energy Council notes that hydropower can “rapidly ramp up its production to meet peak demand when the sun sets and solar output recedes,” easing pressure on the grid when it’s needed.

Is hydropower the solution to Australia’s energy needs?

With about 7% of Australia’s total electricity generation coming from hydropower, it would appear it has a long way to go before it makes up a significant share of the country’s energy mix. But with the green light given to the expansion of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, it seems that hydro is set to make a splash in the energy market in the coming years.

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Original reporting by Simon Downes
Image Source: Evgeny_V/Shutterstock.com