Development of Stratford Pumped Hydro & Solar project given the green light

The $1.8 billion Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project has been given the green light, transforming a former mining site into a renewable energy hub in the Gloucester Valley of New South Wales.

This project will not only deliver a significant boost in energy security, but it will also bring investment and job opportunities to the Hunter region with the creation of up to 350 construction jobs and 10 ongoing jobs.

The development will also deliver lasting benefits for the region, including about $18.2 million over the life of the project for community and infrastructure projects to be delivered under a Voluntary Planning Agreement with Mid Coast Council.

The proposed Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project is going to be built on the Stratford Mining Complex site, located about 100 kilometres north of Newcastle, to provide a productive as well as innovative future for the land after mining operations ended in 2024.

The project is being delivered by Gloucester Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Yancoal Australia Limited, and it will include a 300MW pumped hydro power station with 12 hours of energy storage capacity alongside a 320MW solar farm.

The pumped hydro system will transfer water between a new upper reservoir and an existing dam via a tunnel to generate electricity, with water for the initial reservoir to be sourced from the existing mine site.

The facility will provide “firming” energy by storing surplus electricity generated during the day and releasing it to generate electricity during evening peak times. This renewable energy project is forecasted to deliver up to 13 per cent of the State’s 2034 long duration storage target.

“This is exactly what planning for the future looks like.

“We are taking a former mine site and giving it a new purpose powering up to 120,000 homes across New South Wales.

“This is a major vote of confidence in our region. We have the land, infrastructure, and skilled workforce needed to deliver the next generation of major energy projects,” Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said.

The Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project was declared a Critical State Significant Infrastructure in June 2024, and it is a crucial component of the New South Wales Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

The Roadmap is a 20-year plan to diversify the energy generation mix while providing energy security as the State moves away from coal-fired power. The transition from coal to renewable energy happening in the Hunter is also demonstrated in the Port of Newcastle.

“This is the first pumped hydro project to secure final planning approval in NSW in 6 years. It’s a sign of our commitment to a clean energy future and the beginnings of an evolution of jobs and energy generation in the Hunter to power homes and businesses.

“Projects like Stratford Pumped Hydro also show how we can make the most of former mining sites and create new jobs and industry which will help to drive the region’s economic growth for decades to come,” Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said.

While the Port of Newcastle remains the largest coal export port in the world, it is also now a critical gateway for renewables infrastructure that serves as an entry point for everything from wind turbines to solar panels and battery energy storage systems that enable the delivery of projects across the Hunter and beyond.

The Minns Labor Government is supporting this transformation by declaring part of the Port of Newcastle a State Significant Infrastructure to consolidate approvals for updates to the Port, adding flexibility to future operations.

This project is another example of the State Government backing jobs in the Hunter for decades to come.

“The Port of Newcastle is the mouth that feeds the state’s transition to renewable energy.

“This project is a great glimpse into NSW energy future, reusing a former mining site for new and innovative renewable energy technologies,” Member for Newcastle Tim Crackanthorp said.

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Inside State Government; Yancoal – Stratford Renewable Energy Hub