Pumped Hydro Recoverable Grants Program

The $50 million Pumped Hydro Recoverable Grants Program is a key action in the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The Program will provide recoverable grants to project developers to assist with the cost of early stage, detailed feasibility studies for pumped hydro projects.

Pumped hydro is recognised as the most established form of long duration storage. However, pumped hydro projects face long lead times with costly development activities taking up to four years to complete, and procurement and construction typically taking another four years.

The Program will stimulate competition for long duration storage Long Term Energy Service Agreements by ensuring multiple feasible pumped hydro projects participate.

Applications are expected to open early in the third quarter of 2021. The Program’s application and assessment process is competitive, and submissions will be assessed against the eligibility and merit criteria, which are further defined in the Program Guidelines .

Full program information can be found here.