Energy News Bulletin has reported on #PumpedHydro’s $2b comeback pitch
As coal retirement accelerates, Sunshine Hydro is pressing ahead with Djandori — a roughly $2b, closed-loop pumped-hydro project in central Queensland designed to deliver coal-scale storage backed by contracted wind and solar.
Formerly Flavian, the 961-hectare Djandori Gung-i project pairs two off-river reservoirs with underground pump-turbines to firm renewables when output dips, while drawing surplus power during high wind and solar periods. The developer argues its “superhybrid” model — integrating storage, firming and green hydrogen — can shorten build times by leveraging existing transmission and running surface and underground works in parallel.
CEO Rick McElhinney says early geotechnical work, conservative design and staged construction are central to managing underground risk as the project enters the federal approvals process.
With Snowy2 overruns still casting long shadows, Djandori is shaping as a test of whether pumped hydro can regain investor confidence — and move faster — in Australia’s next phase of the energy transition.
Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gK8Z5733
When the Tankers Don’t Come: Fuel Security and the Case for Domestic Biomethanol
April 8, 2026
Australia imports the overwhelming majority of its refined liquid fuels. We consume in the order of 50 billion litres of petroleum products annually. Our domestic stockholding sits at roughly 20 to 28 days of supply — well below the 90-day reserve obligation we committed to as a member of the International Energy Agency. We have been in technical breach of that commitment for over a decade.
