Snowy 2.0 by Snowy Hydro: status and timeline

Snowy 2.0

Add fast-start generation and long-duration storage to Australia's grid, enabling higher renewable penetration by providing dispatchable power whenever demand peaks.

PilotStage 3 of 5

Over 70% complete; four tunnel borers active; first power H2 2027.

Updated Feb 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · First power delivery

Project announced2017Complete.
First tunnel borer deployed2019Complete.
Fourth tunnel borer (Monica) deployedFeb 2026Complete.
Transition tunnel crown at Tantangara completed2026Complete.
First power deliveryTarget Q4 2027+81 mo~~originally 2021~~Current milestone.
Full operationTarget Dec 2029Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2026Transition tunnel crown completed (next)
Q4 2027First power delivery+81 mo~~originally 2021~~
Q4 2027First water flows and power generation
Dec 2029Full operation

Current obstacles

Hard rock tunnellingGranite bedrock slowed boring. Faults, water inflows and breakdowns required four TBMs to maintain schedule.
Cost and schedule creepCost rose from A$2B to A$12B+; first power slipped from 2021 to 2027. Remote site and rock conditions drive both.

Physics limits

Geography limits sizeOnly locations with big elevation differences can host large pumped hydro. Australia has few suitable sites.
Pump/turbine efficiencyAbout 70-85% of pumping energy is recovered as electricity. Building two-way turbines is less efficient than one-way dams.

How it works

3 parts

Two reservoirs

Upper and lower water storage

Tantangara and Tooma connected by 37 km of tunnels through rock. Height difference (~430 m) creates potential energy.

Generate

Release water to make power

When the grid needs power, gates open and water flows down through turbines, spinning generators. Peak output: 2.2 GW.

Pump back

Store energy by pumping uphill

Excess power runs pumps that push water back to the upper reservoir, storing energy for next peak demand.

Spec sheet

Spec	Snowy 2.0
Generation capacity	2,200 MW^R (reported)
Energy storage	350,000 MWh^R (reported)
Homes powered one week	3,000,000^R (reported)
Total project cost	A$12B+^R (reported)
Interconnecting tunnels	~37 km^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Feb 2026

Major: Snowy Hydro adds fourth tunnel borer to keep project on trackPressManufacturing

2026

Minor: Snowy 2.0 completes transition tunnel crown at Tantangara intakePressManufacturing

About Snowy Hydro

The team behind Snowy 2.0

Snowy Hydro

Pumped hydro storage, Snowy 2.0 expansion

Snowy Hydro operates Australia's largest hydroelectric scheme and is building Snowy 2.0, a 2.2 GW pumped-hydro expansion. The company supplies about one-third of Australia's renewable energy.

Operates 16 power stations, 5.5 GW capacity, 1.6 million retail customers, one-third of Australia's renewable supply.
Snowy 2.0: 2.2 GW, 350 GWh storage. Over 70% built; first power H2 2027. Cost now A$12B+.
Fourth tunnel borer (Monica) deployed Feb 2026 to accelerate completion.

snowyhydro.com.au (opens snowyhydro.com.au)Company profile →

Founded: 194977 yrs
Headquarters: Australia
Status: Government
Valuation: government
Staff: ~1,726Jan 2022
Works in: EnergyGrid storage
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 1 Feb 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Australian Government

Spec

Snowy 2.0

Generation capacity

2,200 MW^R (reported)

Energy storage

350,000 MWh^R (reported)

Homes powered one week

3,000,000^R (reported)

Total project cost

A$12B+^R (reported)

Interconnecting tunnels

~37 km^R (reported)