Borumba
About the Project
The proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project is a long-duration pumped hydro energy storage system being developed at Lake Borumba and surrounding areas located in between Imbil, west of the Sunshine Coast, and Jimna in the Somerset region.
Pumped hydro energy storage has been used in electricity systems around the world for more than a century. It’s a proven and reliable way to store large amounts of energy.
The site was identified more than 40 years ago in the 1980s as having significant potential for a pumped hydro scheme because of ideal topography, an existing reservoir, and geological stability. The proposed project site is on State land and is on the traditional country of the Kabi Kabi People.
As a multi-decade and intergenerational asset, the Borumba Project can provide long-duration energy storage that can support Queensland’s energy transition.
It is being designed to capture and store excess energy and then provide this stored energy back into the electricity grid for use by Queensland homes and businesses when it is needed.
Project status
In June 2025, the Queensland Government transferred oversight of Queensland Hydro to Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).
Our current focus is delivering a refreshed business case and commercial assessment for the proposed Borumba Project that is aligned to the Queensland Government’s five-year energy roadmap strategy and meets the State’s future energy needs. The refreshed business case is expected to be completed by mid-2026. For Queensland Hydro, this scope means a long-duration pumped hydro system.
Queensland Hydro is currently undertaking early works onsite, technical investigations, project planning, design and community work. This includes site preparations and construction of temporary accommodation camps to house our workforce.
Our high-level program of work continues to focus on assessing the design to improve cost and schedule certainty and minimise any potential impacts on natural, cultural and community values.
In addition to early works being underway, we are continuing to seek regulatory approvals for the exploratory works phase of the Project. In December, the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) advised that they had assessed and approved Queensland Hydro’s application to undertake exploratory works on the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project.
Exploratory works will include further investigations and development of the proposed site and will inform the final project design.
Visit the links below for more information on current works and approvals.
