Centennial Pumped Hydro Energy Storage

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The Centennial Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project will perform a series of technical studies and trials for the potential deployment of a nominal 600 MW pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) system using underground coal mining voids.Key resultsThe project determined that underground PHES would only be technically viable under a set of very specific conditions:Suitable longwall voids will need to be composed of high strength rock and be at relatively shallow depths so saturation-induced collapse is minimal.The longwalls will need to be relatively narrow so that there are relatively more high porosity/conductivity edges.The coal seams mined will need to have very low gas contents and a low propensity to spontaneous combustion.The following challenges were identified during the first stage of the project:It is unlikely that a PHES scheme can be operated concurrently with longwall extraction and that the infrastructure required for PHES can be installed while mining in anticipation of such a scheme later.Planning laws have not envisaged an underground coal mine being used as an underground PHES. While planning approval pathways were identified, work would be required with government regulators to confirm permissibility once a definitive project is identified.As underground PHES may produce fugitive emissions, the risk that a carbon tax or alternative emissions scheme is introduced will impact economics.

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