The New South Wales government has greenlit a AU$1.8 billion pumped hydro and solar project in the Gloucester Valley that will transform a former mining site into a renewable energy generator.
The Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project will transform the Stratford Mining Complex site where coal mining operations ended in 2024 into a modern renewable energy generator.
Located roughly 100 kilometres north of Newcastle, the hub is expected to provide clean power to up to 120,000 homes across the state.
Developed by Gloucester Coal, a subsidiary of Yancoal Australia, the project pairs a 300-megawatt (MW) pumped hydro power station boasting 12 hours of storage capacity with a 320 MW solar farm.
The facility will act as a giant battery, soaking up excess solar energy generated during the day and releasing it as firming power during evening peak periods.
The project is a major win for regional employment, creating up to 350 construction jobs and 10 ongoing operational positions.
MidCoast Council will also receive roughly AU$18.2 million over the project’s lifespan through a voluntary planning agreement to fund vital local infrastructure and community initiatives.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully highlighted the significance of the determination, noting it represents the first pumped hydro project to receive final planning approval in NSW in six years.
“Projects like Stratford Pumped Hydro show how we can make the most of former mining sites and create new jobs and industry which will help to drive the region’s economic growth for decades to come,” Scully said.
The project aligns with a broader shift in the Hunter region. While the Port of Newcastle remains a global coal powerhouse, it has fast become a premier entry gate for large-scale wind, solar, and battery components driving the state’s transition.
The project is slated to deliver roughly 13 per cent of the state’s 2034 long-duration energy storage target under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
“This is exactly what planning for the future looks like,” said Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley.
“We are taking a former mine site and giving it a new purpose powering up to 120,000 homes across New South Wales.”
