Hydropower Plants in Australia

Fact Checked

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

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

Hydropower plants in Australia

While there are more than 700 power stations currently operating in Australia, most have a relatively modest output. Below is a list of all the operational hydropower plants with a capacity of over 50MW, listed by ascending capacity.

Australian hydropower station location, capacity and ownership

There are currently 36 hydro power plants operating across Australia according to the Open Infrastructure Map. These hydropower plants are located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.

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Source: Open Infrastructure Map

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.

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 electricity grid system.

The amount of electricity produced depends on factors like 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, allowing hydropower plants to generate energy during peak electricity usage times to make up for any shortages in traditional coal-fired electricity generation.

Types of hydropower plants

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

Diversion hydropower plants

A diversion plant utilises a river’s natural riverbed decline to produce electricity. A run-of-river, or diversion plant, forces some of the river through a canal and/or penstock that then flows to the plant’s turbines that generate electricity.

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 stores energy like a battery, by pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. When electricity use is at its peak, the higher reservoir releases water back to the lower reservoir which then turns a turbine, creating electricity.

What is the biggest hydropower plant in Australia?

The largest hydroelectric power plant in Australia is operated 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 2,200MW 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 was first introduced to Australia in 1949. This was the year that Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority (SMHEA) was established.

In 1891, 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 electricity 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 energy sources. The Clean Energy Council notes that hydropower can rapidly increase 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?

Between 5-7% of Australia’s total electricity generation comes from hydropower, so 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 improve its contribution to the energy market in the coming years.

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Original reporting by Simon Downes
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