AGL acquires Upper Hunter pumped hydro projects
Pamela Largue
Posted on: 8 May 2025
AGL Energy has acquired two pumped hydro energy storage projects held by Upper Hunter Hydro Top Trust and its trustee (UHH).
Australian energy company AGL Energy has acquired two pumped hydro energy storage projects held by Upper Hunter Hydro Top Trust and its trustee (UHH).
The two early-stage projects are located in the Hunter region, New South Wales, a region with favourable topography for pumped hydro projects according to AGL.
The Glenbawn and Glennies Creek projects have 770MW and 623MW capacity respectively, each with 10 hours of energy storage potential. There is also the possibility of integrating wind farms in the future.
The acquisition aligns with AGL's strategy to include more long duration storage in its development portfolio, stated AGL chief operating officer, Markus Brokhof in a release.
Said Brokhof: “Adding long duration storage such as pumped hydro is a focus for AGL as we continue to build out the breadth of our development pipeline to achieve our ambition of adding 12GW of new renewables and firming by 2035.
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“It is crucial the future energy system is developed with a spectrum of storage and firming, encompassing short, medium, and long-term storage technologies. Developing pumped hydro energy storage and other synchronous long duration storage is integral to ensuring reliability and affordability as Australia transitions to a renewable energy system.”
Brokhof explained that the government's decision to define long duration storage as 8+ hours, coupled with increased storage targets are encouraging AGL to expand its portfolio. Also, pumped hydro is attractive because of the long technical lifetime of the projects, he added.
The outgoing chairman of UHH, Malcolm Turnbull, added: “Long duration storage will play a critical role in Australia’s future energy system, helping to keep the grid reliable by shifting renewable energy to match consumer demand."
Turnbull Renewables will continue to support the development of the projects.
In March 2025, AGL Energy reportedly submitted the Muswellbrook pumped hydro project for government environmental approval.
The 400MW/3.2GWh Muswellbrook project will comprise a lower reservoir within an existing coal mine void owned by the Muswellbrook Coal Company and an upper reservoir located at Bells Mountain.
