About UHEP

 

Upper Hunter Energy Park has been in the making for two decades. Pamada, as the Proponent, has been involved in the project since 2001 with early works including the installation of further metrological masts to add to the one installed by CSIRO in 1999. The project’s environmental assessment was submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment in late 2008. The energy park was granted Project Approval in early 2010 and since then the project team has been working towards meeting the Conditions of Approval, reaching the end of the development stage and progressing onto construction.

Project approval included the construction and operation of the following:

  • up to 34 wind turbines (31 at Mountain Station and 3 at Middlebrook Station);
  • 3-10 megawatt solar photovoltaic arrays;
  • one megawatt closed loop hydro plant;
  • electricity substation, switch yard and control room;
  • 33 kilovolt internal (underground) transmission cabling and overhead connection between the two sites;
  • internal access roads;
  • manager’s residence, visitors and education centre and maintenance shed; and
  • temporary construction compound(s).

The creation of the Upper Hunter Energy Park is hoped to make a real difference, with measurable benefits to both the environment and the local community.

Upper Hunter Energy Park Location Map

Location of UHEP sites relative to nearby towns

Mountain Station Layout as Originally Approved

UHEP Mountain station overlay

ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY

A clean and renewable alternative to conventional forms of electricity production such as coal and gas

Scone fields and hills

REDUCING CO2 GASES

An estimated reduction of well over 10 million tonnes of CO2 gases over the initial life of the technology proposed, equivalent to removing well over 100,000 cars from the roads

FREE FROM AIR POLLUTANTS

Clean and renewable energy production free from other air pollutants such as coal dust, heavy metal compounds, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxides

SAVING WATER CONSUMPTION

Reduction in water consumption compared to coal fired power generation by approximately 1 billion litres of potable water per annum (~15 Olympic Swimming Pools every day!)

POWERING 45,000 HOUSEHOLDS

Production of enough green energy to power approximately 45,000 households each year

REINFORCING JOBS

Short and Long term jobs reinforcing the Hunter as a region of high skills in the generation of Electricity

Wind turbines behind Scone

SUPPORTING THE SCONE COMMUNITY

Bringing direct and tangible benefits to the Scone community via the Moobi Foundation