Inside the engineering megaproject that went horribly wrong | Four Corners
ABC News In-depth・29 minutes read
Snowy 2.0, a project to power millions of homes, faces delays and budget overruns, reaching $12 billion. Despite challenges, Snowy Hydro's CEO remains upbeat about the project's role in the energy transition.
Insights
- Snowy 2.0, initially envisioned to power millions of homes for a week in a low-carbon future, faced immense delays and cost overruns, with the budget skyrocketing to $12 billion, six times the original estimate, highlighting significant challenges in its execution and completion.
- Despite criticisms and setbacks, the CEO of Snowy Hydro remains optimistic about the project's completion and its pivotal role in the energy transition, emphasizing its importance for providing deep storage for renewable energy and addressing energy security concerns, showcasing a strong commitment to achieving the project's ambitious goals amidst adversity.
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Recent questions
What is the purpose of Snowy 2.0?
To power homes with low-carbon energy.
Who conducted the feasibility study for Snowy 2.0?
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC).
What challenges did the tunnel boring machine, Florence, face?
Soft ground and water issues causing delays.
Who approved the Snowy 2.0 project?
Scott Morrison.
What criticisms did Snowy 2.0 face?
Economic viability and environmental concerns.
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Summary
00:00
Snowy 2.0: Ambitious Project Faces Challenges
- Snowy 2.0 was envisioned as a nation-building project for a low-carbon future, aiming to power up to 3 million homes for a week.
- The project faced significant delays and cost overruns, with a budget now at $12 billion, six times the initial estimate.
- The tunnel boring machine, Florence, has been stuck for 19 months due to soft ground, causing major setbacks.
- The project's construction site in the Kosciuszko National Park is challenging to access, requiring permission from Snowy Hydro.
- The feasibility study for Snowy 2.0 was conducted by the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC), which raised concerns about the geology and recommended more drilling.
- SMEC's estimate for the project's cost doubled from the initial forecast to between $3.8 and $4.5 billion.
- Despite the challenges, the CEO of Snowy Hydro remains optimistic about completing the project and its importance for the energy transition.
- The original idea for Snowy 2.0 was sketched out on a coaster in a pub, based on extending the original Snowy Hydro scheme from the 1960s.
- The project involves ambitious engineering, including 27 km of tunnels and caverns the size of the Titanic, but faces criticism for its economic viability.
- The project's history is marked by political will and ambition, with the hope of providing deep storage for renewable energy and addressing energy security concerns.
20:58
Florence's Challenges: Approval, Delays, and Controversy
- The project faced intense scrutiny and political pressure, receiving final approval from Scott Morrison.
- Detailed geotechnical investigations were lacking for the challenging geological conditions along the project route.
- The project relied on three tunnel boring machines, with one named Florence.
- Florence encountered unexpected soft ground and water issues, causing delays and challenges.
- Despite warnings and difficulties, the project continued with Florence, leading to significant problems.
- Florence hit soft ground, causing a stall, with workers facing challenges in clearing mud and water.
- Snowy Hydro failed to disclose Florence's issues to the public, misleading them about the project's progress.
- Florence's troubles were exacerbated by the lack of essential equipment, like a slurry system.
- Snowy Hydro and the contractor faced criticism for their handling of Florence's challenges and safety incidents.
- The project's transmission network plans faced community opposition and environmental concerns, potentially causing further delays.
40:49
Debate over Snowy 2.0 energy storage
- New South Wales government has rejected the idea of burying power lines due to cost, emphasizing the importance of Snowy 2.0 for long-duration energy storage as Australia transitions away from fossil fuels.
- While Malcolm Turnbull advocates for deep storage, Snowy 2.0 proponents argue that large-scale batteries are a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option, with concerns about construction risks and environmental damage associated with the project.
