Mastering the PHES Approval Process: Balancing Speed with Technical Rigor for Groundwater Impact Assessments

Long duration energy storage (LDES) is imperative to supporting Australia’s rapid energy transition. LDES provides the firming capacity to enable grid stability – supporting variable renewable energy, including solar and wind. Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) has been, and remains, the leading solution for LDES.

Balancing urgency and technical rigor in PHES Approvals

One of the most complex challenges across Australian PHES projects is the constrained nature of the planning approvals schedule. The urgency surrounding these projects is driven not only by political motivations but also by the critical need to support the energy transition and enable more variable renewable energy to enter the grid. Critical path technical studies, such as groundwater, typically face intense scrutiny. Proponents are challenged to strike a balance between meeting scheduling commitments and securing a planning approval with consent conditions that reflect the outcomes of technically robust assessment.

Amongst a range of environmental assessment requirements, Groundwater Impact Assessments (GIAs) are required to inform an assessment of construction, operational and closure-related impacts. Throughout the various stages of PHES development, project interactions with groundwater are often wide and varied. State and Commonwealth guidelines require proponents to establish groundwater monitoring networks, enabling adequate assessment of baseline spatial and temporal changes in groundwater levels, water quality and surface water/groundwater interactions. State and Commonwealth Agencies generally encourage proponents to develop a 24-month continuous baseline monitoring record prior to commencing modelling and assessment, allowing for assessment of seasonality on groundwater behaviour. This requirement typically confounds proponents, particularly those that are looking to develop PHES schemes in areas regarded as relatively low risk.

Navigating Risk and Collaboration

To overcome these challenges, projects require bespoke solutions that reflect their specific risk profile and support the navigation of monitoring and assessment complexities – as well as the tailoring of field investigations, assessment, and modelling approaches. These projects require a high-degree of collaboration, built on early engagement with key State and Commonwealth Agencies and the project design team. Gaining consensus on the appreciation of risk throughout each project stage, and how those activities may interact with groundwater is vital for successful outcomes.

The internal and external perceptions of risk are equally as important for successful project delivery. - An environment-led design approach which integrates risk management and mitigation strategies early in the project lifecycle, strongly encourages an acceptable residual risk outcome. In our experience, a nuanced approach to assessment that supports proponents to meet their constrained approvals schedule, delivers fit-for-purpose assessments that meet regulator requirements.

EMM Approach Engaging an expert hydrogeological and water licensing team ensures support throughout the longer lead GIA and water licensing process. With extensive experience and a deep understanding of PHES construction and its water demands, our team collaborates closely with the project design team to develop effective GIAs and water licensing strategies. By working together with relevant regulators, our team ensures groundwater assessments, water supply and discharge arrangements are sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable throughout both the construction and operational phases.

For more information on how we may be able to support your project please contact:

Sean Cassidy Associate Director scassidy@emmconsulting.com.au     LinkedIn	Michelle Veney Associate Director mveney@emmconsulting.com.au     LinkedIn
Vanessa O'Keefe Associate Director vokeefe@emmconsulting.com.au