AFRY will design pumped hydro storage in Australia in joint venture with Aurecon
Queensland Hydro has awarded the AFRY and Aurecon Joint Venture (JV) the design contract for the Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project. This initiative will provide stability and reliability to Australia’s energy grid as Queensland transitions to renewable energy. The estimated order value for AFRY is SEK 128 million.
Queensland Hydro is a publicly owned entity established by the Queensland Government of Australia to design, operate and maintain pumped storage hydro energy storage assets that will serve as a cornerstone for the clean energy transition of the state’s energy system.
The Borumba Pumped Hydro project, located at lake Borumba, 180 km from Brisbane, will provide up to 2,000 MW of electricity for 24-hours with a storage capacity of 48,000 MWh, ensuring a secure and reliable energy supply.
The AFRY and Aurecon JV was awarded the Detailed Engineering Design contract, with AFRY’s services valued at SEK 128 million. Together, AFRY and Aurecon bring complementary strengths to the Borumba project, ensuring it is designed to meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and efficiency.
Queensland Hydro CEO, Kieran Cusack said that this natural partnership underpinned an extraordinary milestone for the Borumba Project. “We’re delighted to be bringing AFRY-Aurecon JV on board for the design work of the pumped hydro energy storage scheme. Their industry-leading and global expertise in mega infrastructure projects across traditional and clean energy sectors is an ideal partnership for our world-class Borumba Pumped Hydro Project. AFRY-Aurecon JV will advance our front-end engineering design documentation, focusing on the technical elements of the pumped hydro scheme itself – such as the interplay between the turbines, cavern design, tunnel waterway design, and other equipment – ensuring that the Borumba Project is safe, reliable and technically-sound.”
The Borumba Pumped Hydro Project is scheduled to begin its design and construction phase in 2025, with commercial operations expected to start in early 2031.
“The Borumba Pumped hydro Project will be a game-changer for Queensland and a cornerstone of Australia's clean energy transition. At AFRY, we are proud to be part of this ambitious project and honoured, alongside our partner Aurecon, to provide our leading hydropower design expertise to bring it to life” said Knut Sierotzki, Vice President Hydropower Asia/Pacific & Country Manager Australia. “With AFRY’s vast experience in pumped storage design, we will support Queensland Hydro in the successful implementation of this critical infrastructure for the benefit of Queensland’s communities”.
Managing Director, Energy – Australia, Aurecon, Paul Gleeson said “Highly reliable long-duration pumped hydro storage plays a critical role in stabilising an electricity grid that has high levels of renewable energy. It complements the typically shorter duration storage provided by utility-scale batteries, allowing stored energy to be released into our electricity grid when needed. As an Australian-head quartered company Aurecon is proud to be supporting Queensland’s renewable energy ambitions, alongside our JV partner AFRY.”
For more information, please contact:
Knut Sierotzki
Vice President Hydropower Asia/Pacific & Country Manager Australia
knut.sierotzki@afry.com
Virginia Ferrari
Communications Manager, Energy Division
virginia.ferrari@afry.com