Shoalhaven Hydro - Geotechnical Works

In point form;

*Pumped hydro is a storage of surplus energy used to balance the grid
at times when energy levels are too high and the additional load of
water pumping, which is controllable, manages the grid balance. This
would include instances of remote locations such as islands with
surplus wind power, or nuclear power plant derived energy requiring
more grid load. In both scenarios the power is deemed "wasted" and is
either negatively priced or free.

* Australia does not have free or negative price energy.

* Australia charges a very high price for using the grid, often this
grid service fee can exceed the price of the electricity. In many
cases the quarterly electricity bill consists of 25% electricity and
75% fees.

* By 2030 the value of these projects will be under severe pricing
stress. All of the data modelling indicates the rise of renewable
energy and battery technology will outstrip demand by 2030. The cost
of this project has important micro-economic consequences for a 10-15
year lifespan. It must prove itself viable in this timespan and not a
longer timespan. In the near future (as early as 2026, as late as
2035), Australia will be >50% reliant on solar, hydrogen, wind and
battery. For this project to make any sense, it must provide economic
evidence in a 15 year window.

* Emerging hydrogen technologies, where the CSIRO is a world leader,
indicate the option of creating hydrogen and ammonia as an output that
can be used locally as a battery or sold / exported to truck, train,
bus or carried to Japan. In this regard, Hydrogen is a long term
option with agile outputs. It is a consideration to apply to this
project. The option is to build for the future.

* I have deep concerns about the reliance on fossil fuel and believe
this scheme is aimed at an estimated 15% of the annual needs of the
grid.Only in summer does the grid fail. Even so, the grid fails due to
extreme heat. It was unclear whether or not these needs will be met by
solar farming and wind. Taking into consideration the amount of time
to develop this project to the needs of a future population, and what
the situation will be at the completion date. The bonanza many are
hoping for where power spikes at $14,500 per megawatt hour will become
less frequent in coming years as the amount of rooftop, wind and farm
energy smooths the grid considerably. Without a peak income
opportunity, it is unclear what the gains are in the long term.

* I am aware many towns are planning for grid local batteries and many
homes are planning for private batteries. In this world of batteries
at the community and home level, what will be the role of hydro ?
Australia is developing no fewer than 4 battery factory projects with
more coming. These include Redflow, Sonnen, A project in Qld, A
project in NSW. As the price of battery storage decreases the pressure
on pumped hydro pricing will only cause problems. No large scale
scheme can beat 8 cents per kilowatt hour because it must necessarily
use a grid and pay a grid fee. Rooftop solar appears to be heading
towards 3 cents per kilowatt hour as panel prices keep falling and
capacity increasing per solar panel. These technologies exist now and
will only get cheaper. It remains unclear what the customer will pay
for this hydro power when it is delivered.

*Australia has a 400% per capita carbon footprint.

* Domestic power consumption accounts for 25% of all grid energy
usage. The other 75% may not require a hydro boost to operate. As the
domestic sector (25%) causes most of the grid problems and produces
the bumps in demand, the evaporation of the domestic market from the
total power demand puts hydro power in a nowhere scenario. It will be
a "now and then" service with constant operating costs and limited
output. It is unclear who will benefit the most from this project.

I submit for consideration some alternatives;
1/ Creation of a local hydrogen technology for lifetime operations and
support for new transport / new export markets
2/ Further development on garbage and human waste management as fuel.
Otherwise known as SynGas.
3/ A large chemical battery to be installed
4/ Desalination works to maintain surplus amounts of drinking water
5/ Pumped viaducts to inland locations to provide seawater for
desalination far from the coast.

My objections to pumped hydro are
1/ Too expensive
2/ Short lifespan of project, after which becomes marginal asset with
operational cost
3/ Lacks ecological value until surplus renewable energy can be found
to pump water
4/ Does not account for future slump in domestic power demand, which
is the main reason for installing this resource. Most houses will
generate their own power and store it locally.
5/ Has no secondary market value such as transport or export.
6/ Output is tied to a grid fee which will increasingly become less
competitive against rooftop and small-community assets by the time
this project is complete
7/ Should not be built with any fossil fuel component in pumping and
may need to be delayed until it can be operated on directly connected
renewable energy sources. That is, build the renewables first and then
build the hydro if deemed necessary
8/ importing power from the grid, selling power to the grid and having
no additional battery as part of the design is a losing equation and
will be driven out by market pricing, making this a stranded asset.

Given the nature of the proposal and the sensitive location within which
it is proposed to occur, Council requests that it be appropriately
accessed against all relevant legislation, any environmental impact is
minimised and managed and any damage/disturbance appropriately
rehabilitated or restored.

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