On 19/03/2021 the Future Generation joint-venture, composed of the Italian company Webuild (leader), the Australian-based Clough and US-based Lane Construction- celebrated with Snowy Hydro Ltd the commissioning of the first of three technologically advanced TBMs assigned to Snowy 2.0 and designed specifically for Snowy 2.0. The project is the largest renewable energy project in Australia expanding Snowy Hydro’s network of hydro power stations to support the country’s transition to a low-carbon emissions future.
One of the three TBMs will be one of the first in the world to be able to excavate on a range of variable slopes as well as on very steep angles: at a descendent of up to 9% (five degrees) to an ascent of up to 47% (25 degrees).
The TBM commissioned yesterday, has a 11-m diameter, a 380 t cutterhead equipped with 66 replaceable metal disk cutters and metal scrapers. The TBM named Lady Eileen Hudson, has been assembled onsite after its components were transported from Port Kembla. It will drive the 2.6-km main access tunnel to where a cavern will be dug to house the underground powerhouse of the pumped-storage scheme. The TBM will then be dismantled and reassembled at the Talbingo portal where it will excavate the tailrace tunnel.
Work has also started on the portal for the Emergency, Cable and Ventilation Tunnel, or the cable tunnel for short. The 1.7 km tunnel is one of two access tunnels to the underground cavern and provides critical airflow, as well as access for people and materials into the underground power station during construction. It will also provide the conduit for high voltage cables for power generated by Snowy 2.0.
In addition to the combined total of 40 km to excavate, the Future Generation joint-venture is overseeing the construction of access roads and other infrastructure like workers’ camps necessary for the development of the project. In the town of Cooma, there is a pre-cast factory and batching plant to produce the concrete segments for the around 14,500 concrete rings that will line the tunnels linking Tantangara and Talbingo dams to the new underground power station.
Set in the Snowy Mountains, Snowy 2.0 will provide 2,000 megawatts of fast-start, dispatchable energy and provide 350,000 megawatt hours of large-scale storage, enough to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes for over a week during peak demand. It will reduce volatility in the power market, support reliability and bring down power prices for families and businesses.
Click here for a video showing the progress made through March. For more detailed information on the project please visit the tunnelbuilder archive clicking here and au/38 and visit https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/, https://www.futuregenerationjv.com.au/ and https://www.webuildgroup.com/it. 11/21.
