Australia’s Snowy 2.0 hydroelectric project, a critical component of the country’s renewable energy infrastructure, has encountered significant setbacks during the construction of its 15-kilometre tunnel through the Snowy Mountains. The project, aimed at increasing Australia’s energy storage capacity, is now facing delays due to a tunnel boring machine, Florence, becoming stuck in soft rock. This is the second time the machine has been halted by unforeseen geological conditions, significantly impacting the project’s schedule and budget.
In response, Snowy Hydro has brought in a new $75 million tunnel boring machine designed to better handle the region’s challenging terrain. The new equipment features enhanced technology, including a longer conveyor belt and high-pressure water jets, to deal with the hard rock and improve efficiency. Additionally, safety concerns have compounded the challenges, with 700 workers halting underground work after a review of safety procedures and refuge chamber requirements. These complications have caused further delays, with a revised completion date now set for 2028. Despite these hurdles, Snowy Hydro remains committed to the project, which is expected to provide up to 2,000 megawatts of power storage capacity, crucial for balancing Australia’s growing reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind. More