Assessing an energy transition and change of legacy for Mt Rawdon
What happens when mining sites reach their end-of-life cycle? Mt Rawdon, an operating open pit gold mine in Queensland is expecting its end of mine life around 2027. Our client and the mine owner collaborated to investigate the site’s potential for a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) facility. One of the benefits? The opportunity to restore the areas of the mine to a safe, stable, and self-sustaining condition—reducing the environmental impacts of mining and changing the legacy of the site.
The basic concept is to use the open pit void as the lower reservoir and to construct an upper reservoir in the vicinity. The project will mark the energy transition of the site at the end of mine life and provide a lasting legacy.
Further assessment of the identified sites during the pre-feasibility level study highlighted that the PHES potential could be expanded, resulting in a preferred upper reservoir site offering up to 20 gigawatt hours of energy storage with options ranging from 500 megawatts to 2,000 megawatts.
Stantec and SFI are now progressing the PHES opportunity to full feasibility level. Access tracks to the upper reservoir site have been established in preparation for the geotechnical investigations and further engineering studies, which will hopefully someday give this mining site a second life.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- ICA Partners
- Partners
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- Strategy Focused Innovation (SFI)
Mark Cordell, Market Leader—Dams and Hydropower, Australia
I get satisfaction at work by making sure our solutions are not only technically sound and cost effective but also ‘best for project’.
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