NEW SOUTH WALES: Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi and his ministry’s delegation continued their trip in Australia by visiting Snowy Hydro Tumut 3 facility in New South Wales on Tuesday (Aug 27).
The visit to the facility was to get to learn and understand the feasibility of Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) in Sarawak.
Julaihi stated the working visit was to spearhead studies and engagements related to the government’s focus on Cascading Power Sources (CPS).
“PHES is under serious consideration as a component in achieving Sarawak’s target to generate 10 gigawatt (GW) of energy by 2030.
“PHES generates electricity using gravity to release water that has been pumped from a lower reservoir source to an upper reservoir, supplying power to the grid when required,” he said in a statement recently.
The Sarawak delegation received briefings on the operational aspects of Tumut 3 and toured Talbingo Dam, the upper reservoir of the power station, which plays a crucial role in electricity generation and water management.
On another note, CPS and PHES studies and engagements include working visits to regions where projects have been successfully implemented, such as in Austria and Australia.
MUT is committed to engaging with local communities as part of its feasibility studies on CPS and PHES, ensuring that communities are included in Sarawak’s renewable energy development.
For the record, the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme comprises eight hydro power stations, including two that are underground.
The scheme’s eight power stations, equipped with 33 turbines, have a
total generating capacity of 4,100 megawatts (MW), producing an average of 4,500 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually.
The Snowy Hydro Tumut 3 Power Station is a key part of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, one of Australia’s major hydroelectric and PHES facilities.
Tumut 3 is the first major pumped-hydro plant in Australia and the largest to date. It recycles water between the Talbingo Reservoir and Jounama Pondage for generation and pumping.
