Construction on the Snowy 2.0 pumped storage hydropower expansion project in the NSW Snowy Mountains is progressing, with Snowy Hydro providing updates from the site at Tantangara.
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Florence, which was halted in May due to hard and abrasive rock conditions, remains operational and has been moved forward in small increments. Hydro blasting is being used to break up the surrounding rock, enabling the machine to navigate a curve and continue its work on the headrace tunnel alignment.
Nick Chapman, a tunnel engineer for Snowy 2.0, provided an update on the progress at the Tantangara Reservoir intake and gate shaft in a video. The gate shaft, which has been fully excavated, is a crucial part of the intake system, controlling the flow of water into the headrace tunnel and power station for maintenance or emergency purposes.
Work is now concentrated on the two transition tunnels on either side of the gate shaft. These tunnels are progressing well, with the top heading complete and excavation to the invert on track for completion in July. The intake structure is now approximately 45m deep, and efforts are being coordinated with the excavation of the third transition tunnel.
The next phase of the project will involve removing a temporary “rock plug” and excavating into Tantangara Reservoir, which will allow water to flow through the intake and into the headrace tunnel, marking a significant milestone in the Snowy 2.0 project.
