“The Bogong Power Station, the largest hydroelectric asset to be built on mainland Australia for more than 25 years, enhances the existing value of the Kiewa hydroelectric scheme by maximizing generation from existing water flows.”
Built adjacent to Bogong Village, at the base of Lake Guy, the station transforms the existing Kiewa scheme into a more efficient peak operation by enabling the nearby McKay Creek power station to operate at its maximum capacity of 160 MW – facilitating instantaneous water delivery to the 29 MW Clover Power Station.
Connected to the outlet of McKay Creek Power Station by a 6 kilometres long, 5 metre diameter tunnel, the new underground Bogong Hydro Power Station has one of the largest ‘hard-rock’ tunnels constructed in the southern hemisphere in the last 40 years.
The entire construction program, has been sensitive to the environment. A comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment was prepared, involving extensive consultation with local communities and other stakeholders. The development of the project concept, and its environmental assessment, was guided by a set of sustainability goals and objectives. The resulting Bogong Power Station delivers a net environmental gain to the area.
The Bogong Power Station will:
- provide 140 MW of ultra fast response peak capacity
- generate 94,000 MWh of emission-free new renewable electricity per year
- abate almost 88,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually
- reduce the need to construct new fossil-fuel power stations
- reinstate close to natural flows in the Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River – protecting river beds and aquatic wildlife
- restore previously degraded land
- provide economic and tourism benefits for the region.
