The Future Generation joint venture has commissioned Kirsten, one of the most technically advanced of the three tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will be deployed for the Snowy 2.0 project.
Germany’s Herrenknecht AG in collaboration with Webuild have specifically built the TBM, named after Australian astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, for the Snowy 2.0 pumped-storage scheme.
TBM Kirsten is a single-shield, open-mode machine designed to deal with hard rock conditions. Its most innovative feature is its ability to excavate at steep angles: up to nine per cent (five degrees) on declines and up to 47 per cent (25 degrees) on inclines.
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With a diameter of approximately 11 metres, the TBM can excavate up to 30 metres of rock per day. At 205 metres in length, it is one of the longest of its kind in operation in the world. It will be responsible for the Emergency, Cable and Ventilation Tunnel, Inclined Pressure Shaft and two kilometres of the Headrace tunnel – more than six kilometres of tunnelling.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor and Paul Broad, Chief Executive of Snowy Hydro, attended the commissioning ceremony at Lobs Hole where the TBM will begin its journey.
Around 1400 people are working on Snowy 2.0, with 150 local businesses involved. Approximately 4000 jobs are expected to be created during the life of the project.