Completes Kidston Hydro Project Technical Feasibility Study
Sydney, Nov 14, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Genex Power Limited (
ASX:GNX) (Genex or Company) is pleased to announce the completion of the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (PSHP or Project) Technical Feasibility Study (TFS). The TFS process was managed by specialist power and water consulting firm, Entura, in conjunction with project partner, HydroChina.
The TFS concludes that all of the key risks identified at the pre-feasibility stage, and any additional risks identified during the TFS, will be appropriately mitigated or addressed through detailed design augmentation and optimisation.
The Project is now fully designed, including the civil works program and detailed mechanical equipment specifications. Genex and Entura continue to engage with a number of highly experienced and well recognised EPC Contractors and Generator/Turbine Suppliers to develop the capital cost estimates. Formal competitive tender processes will be undertaken over the course of the next phase of the Project development to further refine Project capex.
The energy market has evolved significantly since the initial inception of the Project. Going forward, it is anticipated that the market will undergo an intense transition period as the generation mix across the National Energy Market (NEM) shifts from traditional fossil fuel generation towards a fast growing proportion of large scale renewable energy generation. There is a critical need for large scale energy storage, at an affordable cost, to balance the penetration of large scale renewable energy generation into the NEM.
During the course of the TFS, Genex has received significant interest in the Project from a range of funding and financing entities. As a result of the high level of interest, once final costings are completed, Genex will immediately commence project financing activities in order to bring the Project online as soon as possible, with an anticipated target of Q4 2017 to complete the "financial close" process. The main project parameters determined by the TFS are summarised in the table below:
Parameter ValueInstalled Capacity 250MWStorage Capacity 1,500MWhContinuous Generation Duration 6 hoursTurbine Configuration 2 x 125MW Fixed Speed TurbinesUpper Reservoir Volume 2.8 Gigalitres or 2.8 Million m3Upper Reservoir FSL 579.0Upper Reservoir MOL 571.0Upper Reservoir Fluctuation 8.0mLower Reservoir FSL 376.6Lower Reservoir MOL 349.0Lower Reservoir Fluctuation 27.6mMaximum Gross Head 230.0mMinimum Gross Head 194.4mNet Head Ratio 1.23Time to Ramp Up to Full Generation Capacity 30 seconds
Table 1: Project Parameters determined as a result of the TFS process.
Design Optimisation and Project Sizing
Much of the TFS work was focussed on optimising the Project to achieve a design which is technically and commercially feasible. A preferred configuration has been determined with the following characteristics:
- The lower storage reservoir for the Project will be the existing Eldridge Pit;
- The upper storage reservoir of the Project will be created by a "turkey nest" type dam constructed on top of an existing waste rock dump to the north of the Eldridge Pit;
- Utilisation of the Wises Pit as a balancing storage to hold excess water and for flood risk mitigation;
- The upper and lower storage reservoirs will be connected by an underground water conveyance shaft, short pressure tunnel and a tailrace tunnel; and
- The underground powerhouse will contain two sets of nominally 125MW installed capacity reversible turbines, generators, main transformers and auxiliaries.
Project Sizing
As part of the TFS, a number of project size options were developed ranging between 250MW to 450MW.
Genex, in conjunction with its consultants, undertook detailed market studies to assess the pricing and revenue impacts of each of the options. It was determined that a 250MW (configured as 2 x 125MW reversible pump-generators) scheme with 6 hours of continuous generation, totalling 1,500MWh of energy storage capacity, would be the optimal size given the Project's location and forecast characteristics of the NEM in Queensland and Australia.
A 250MW rapid response hydro scheme was deemed to be sufficiently flexible to take full advantage of market volatility opportunities. It should be noted that the overall design general arrangement of the scheme would remain unaltered regardless of the Project size, and as such the Project size remains flexible to changes as Genex proceeds towards financial close.
Construction Cost Estimation
Based on the chosen Project configuration of 250MW nameplate and 1,500MWh energy storage capacity, Genex will now finalise the construction cost estimation with a number of internationally recognised turbine and highly recognised and experienced underground and civil contractors.
Transmission Line
Studies commissioned by Genex indicate that the existing Powerlink transmission network in North Queensland has the capacity to integrate the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project across all its operating modes. Investigations indicate that a suitable connection point for the new transmission line with Powerlink's main 275kv network between Ross in Townsville and Chalumbin near Cairns will be in the vicinity of Mt Fox, which is located approximately 115km northwest of Townsville.
Initial investigations have also indicated that the new transmission line connecting Kidston to Powerlink's network may be able to track existing easements over much of the distance. These early investigations concerning possible routes for the new transmission line also showed the proposed transmission line may not need to traverse any environmentally sensitive areas.
Project Funding and Revenue Contracting
The Company now has clear visibility on potential sources including commercial debt and government funding. Negotiation of Project financing terms will commence in earnest once the final capex estimate is determined. These discussions will continue into the first half of 2017.
Genex is also now engaging with a number of parties to identify opportunities for contracting revenues through power offtake agreements, forward power sales contracts, the sale of energy cap contracts and the potential for Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) revenues. Given the significant increase in penetration of renewable energy generation into the NEM expected over the next few years, there has been growing interest in large, rapid response dispatchable storage which the Project offers. It is the Company's intention to secure stable and long term revenue streams for the Project whilst at the same time retaining a portion of exposure to the spot market.
ARENA Funding
Genex continues its strong relationship with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), whose support has been critical throughout the Project TFS program. To date, Genex has drawn down a total of approximately $2.37 million of its $4.0 million ARENA funding facility. The Company will continue to work closely with ARENA until the Project reaches Financial Close.
Prescribed Project
Following the Project's designation as a "Prescribed Project" in March 2016 by the Queensland State Government's Coordinator General, Genex continues to receive significant support from the Queensland State Government in navigating through the requirements of various state government departments during the Project development phase. This support has had a meaningful impact in terms of progressing the Project through the various approval stages. Working with the State Government, Genex will continue to engage actively with all stakeholders to ensure that final Project approvals can be achieved in a timely manner and in line with Genex's development timetable.
About ARENA
ARENA was established by the Australian Government to make renewable energy technologies more affordable and increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia. Through the provision of funding coupled with deep commercial and technical expertise, ARENA provides the support needed to accelerate the development of promising new solutions towards commercialisation. ARENA invests in renewable energy projects across the innovation chain and is committed to sharing knowledge and lessons learned from its portfolio of projects and information about renewable energy. ARENA always looks for at least matched funding from the projects it supports and to date has committed $1.1 billion in funding to more than 270 projects. For more information, visit www.arena.gov.au.
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About Genex Power Ltd
Genex Power Limited (ASX:GNX) is focused on developing a portfolio of renewable energy generation and storage projects across Australia. The Company's flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub, located in north Queensland, will integrate large-scale solar generation with pumped storage hydro. The Kidston Clean Energy Hub is comprised of the operating 50MW stage 1 Solar Project (KS1) and the 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) with potential for further multi-stage wind and solar projects. The 50MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) is located in NSW and provides geographical diversification to the Genex Power Limited portfolio. JSP was energised in early December 2020 and commissioning is now underway. Genex is further developing its energy storage portfolio via the early stage development of a 50MW/75MWh standalone battery energy storage system at Bouldercombe in Queensland. With over 400MW of renewable energy and storage projects in development, Genex is well placed as Australia's leading renewable energy and storage company.
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