I’m Jane.
I represent an energy trader at Snowy Hydro.
Let me show you where Australia’s energy comes from.
Energy when you need it most.
Snowy 2.0 helps make Australia’s renewable energy affordable and reliable.
A mix of wind, solar, gas, coal and hydro powers everything from homes to offices to industry and ensures a reliable 24/7 supply.
These are the top 5 sources
Others include kerosene, battery storage, coal seam gas and diesel oil.
Australia's energy mix is changing
Over time, renewables will play a much bigger role in the energy market. Especially, rooftop solar.
Source: AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator)
Note: representative only, icons not to scale
Snowy 2.0 works alongside renewables to help keep energy affordable and reliable, 24 hours a day.
The energy market is complicated, so we’ve simplified things on the following panel to show you Snowy 2.0’s relationship with renewables. It’s not technically perfect, but you get the concept.
Morning
When people are waking up and getting ready for work or school, energy demand rises. This means Snowy 2.0’s generation could be needed at this peak time.
Daytime
If the sun is shining, there will be high solar output (helped by rooftop solar), so this will help cover energy demand. Snowy 2.0 could be pumping at this time.
Evening
People are returning home and using energy to watch TV, cook dinner and heat or cool their houses, so energy demand is high. This means Snowy 2.0’s generation could be needed at this peak time.
Evening
People are returning home and using energy to watch TV, cook dinner and heat or cool their houses, so energy demand is high. This means Snowy 2.0’s generation could be needed at this peak time.
At any time supply exceeds demand in the grid – day or night – Snowy 2.0 can use the excess energy to pump, storing water in the top reservoir, ready to be used again. It's the cheapest, most efficient way to provide large-scale energy storage – the equivalent of 2,700 of the South Australian big batteries.
Want to know more about just how big this project is?
Meet my colleague Alex, he’s a construction manager and he’ll tell you all about it.
For the technical story, visit the main website.
