Clough, as part of the Future Generation Joint Venture delivering the Snowy 2.0 project, is proud to announce that the project has reached a new milestone with the commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine (TBM) which will further accelerate progress on the nation-building renewable energy project.

The new TBM Kirsten, named in honour of astrophysicist, science communicator and proud Wiradjuri woman, Kirsten Banks, is 205-metres-long, weighs 2,415 tonnes, and has a diameter of approximately 11 metres. TMB Kirsten will excavate a 2.9km-long tunnel to the power station complex and then continue to tunnel uphill at a 25-degree grade to create an inclined pressure shaft, before tunnelling 2km of the headrace tunnel to a total length of 6.75km/6,750m.

Clough CEO and Managing Director, Peter Bennett, said: “I want to congratulate the project team for reaching this milestone and progressing on the delivery of Australia’s largest renewable project. Our pioneering spirit with joint venture partner, WeBuild, is delivering a world-first, with TBM Kirsten expected to excavate a 25-degree steep incline uphill.”

The first TBM Lady Eileen Hudson, commissioned at the main access tunnel has already excavated 1,000 metres underground, making great progress.

Clough, as part of the Future Generation joint venture with WeBuild, is responsible for delivering the civil and electro-mechanical work for the Snowy 2.0 Project that will link two existing Snowy Scheme dams, Tantangara and Talbingo, through underground tunnels to the depths of up to one kilometre and an underground power station with pumping capabilities.

Snowy 2.0 will add 2,000 megawatts of energy generation and provide 175 hours of energy storage for the National Electricity Market, enough to ensure the stability and reliability of the system during prolonged weather events, such as wind or solar droughts.

Snowy Hydro already plays a critical role in ensuring system stability at times of peak demand, and Snowy 2.0 will enhance this existing capability and ensure that we can continue to provide increased stability and security to the energy market well into the future.

 

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About Clough 

Clough is a pioneering engineering and construction company established in 1919 in Perth, Western Australia. Clough delivers sustainable high performing assets for the infrastructure, resources and energy industries underpinned by a dedication to problem solving and getting the job done safely and efficiently.  

Today, Clough manages a global workforce of over 2500 people from operating centres across Australia, Asia Pacific, UK, and North America that strive for the best in everything, setting new safety and performance benchmarks every single day. 

Clough is a wholly owned subsidiary of Murray & Roberts, a multinational group that focuses its expertise on delivering sustainable and fit-for-purpose project engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance solutions. The Group delivers its capabilities into the resources, industrial, energy, water and specialised infrastructure sectors.