The 143m-long TBM Florence is one of a trio of technologically-advanced machines excavating more than 27km of waterway tunnels as part of the large pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Tantangara, where TBM Florence is being launched to excavate the headrace tunnel, Snowy Hydro managing director and CEO Paul Broad said the project was making “terrific” progress.
“The other two TBMs, Lady Eileen Hudson and Kirsten, are already powering ahead excavating the main access tunnel and emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel at Lobs Hole, so we’re delighted to be starting this very long and deep headrace tunnel from Tantangara,” he said.
Named after Australia’s first female electrical engineer, Florence Violet McKenzie (1890-1982), TBM Florence is set to excavate 15.4km of the 17km headrace tunnel. The 11m-diameter Herrenknecht machine has been designed to manage hazardous dust and poor ground conditions while tunnelling up to 450m underground.
The Snowy 2.0 project will significantly expand Australia’s pumped-hydro electricity generation and involves linking two existing dams, Tantangara and Talbingo, through 27km of tunnels; also to be constructed is a new underground power station. The scheme includes a combined total of 40km of tunnels excavated. When complete in 2026 Snowy Hydro 2.0 will deliver 2,000 megawatts of pumping and generating capacity and 175 hours of storage – enough to power 500,000 homes simultaneously – which will underpin thousands of megawatts of intermittent renewables.
In April 2019, the then Salini Impregilo (Webuild) won the AU$5.1bn (approx. US$3.59bn) contract as leader of the Future Generation JV which includes Webuild’s US subsidiary Lane, and Clough (Australia).
