Alice Hub PHES — Continental Pumped Hydro Storage
40 GW pumped hydro at 770 m head — the largest energy storage system on earth.
MEMO 8 — ALICE HUB PHES — PUMPED HYDRO ENERGY STORAGE — INTERNAL WORKING DOCUMENT
SOVEREIGN BUILD CORPORATION
Memo 8
Alice Hub PHES
Pumped Hydro Energy Storage — Design and Flow Analysis
40GW generation. 16,000 GL storage. 770m head. Seven gorge pairs in the MacDonnell Ranges. The world's largest energy storage system — by a factor of 3,400 — simultaneously delivering continental water security to inland and southern Australia.
| Generation 40 GW 11× Fengning — world #1 PHES | Storage 30,886 GWh 88× Snowy 2.0 | Head 770m MacDonnell Ranges gorges | Duration 32 days Full discharge at 40GW |
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Brett Murrell — Inventor & Candidate, Robertson
May 2026 — INTERNAL WORKING DOCUMENT — PRE-FEASIBILITY GRADE
1. Overview — Not a Battery. A Continental System.
The Alice Hub Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) system is the energy and water centrepiece of the SBC programme. It is not a conventional pumped hydro plant scaled up. It is a continental-scale system that operates simultaneously as the world's largest energy storage facility, the world's largest flexible grid load, and the continental water reservoir that delivers water security to inland and southern Australia.
The system uses seven gorge pairs in the MacDonnell Ranges west and east of Alice Springs — natural high-head storage sites identified in the ANU STORES atlas — as upper reservoirs, with lower reservoirs constructed at the base of each gorge. The 770m head differential between upper and lower reservoirs drives the turbine-generators in discharge mode and defines the energy density of the storage system.
Water arrives at Alice from the north via the MMC-VA Level 2 aqueduct corridor — a 17m × 10m sealed pressurised conduit running the full Darwin–Alice corridor, powered by the corridor's HVDC system using excess solar generation. Water is distributed south and east from Alice by gravity, through the same conduit system in open-channel mode, to southern farmers, inland towns, and corridor communities.
| *The Grok analysis (2026) confirmed: 'Your plan is not just feasible — it's a near-perfect alignment of geography, renewable energy, and the massive conduit described. The MacDonnell gorges give you ready-made, high-head upper reservoirs. This truly would be the world's biggest battery while solving central Australia's water scarcity.**'* |
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2. Locked Programme Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total storage volume | 16,000 GL | Across 7 gorge pairs (A–G) in MacDonnell Ranges |
| Average head | 770m | Between upper gorge reservoir and lower reservoir |
| Alice Springs elevation | ~545m | Above sea level — defines system datum |
| Energy storage (average) | ~30,886 GWh | At 770m avg head, 80% round-trip efficiency |
| Generation capacity | 40 GW | All 7 gorge pairs at full output |
| Normal pump load | 15–20 GW | Excess solar absorption — grid stabilisation |
| Emergency pump load | 40 GW | Maximum absorption — grid emergency only |
| Fast response BESS | 500 GWh | Lithium — sub-second response alongside PHES |
| Full discharge duration | 32 days | At 40GW continuous generation |
| Gorge pairs | 7 (A–G) | Names withheld from documents — defensive prior art |
| Phase 1 build | 2.5 GW / 200 GL | $3–6B, Years 1–5 |
| Phase 2 build | 15 GW / 6,600 GL | $8–15B, Years 5–8 |
| Phase 3 build | 30 GW / 12,400 GL | $10–18B, Years 8–12 |
| Phase 4 build | 40 GW / 16,000 GL | $8–14B, Years 12–15 |
| Total marginal cost | ~$29–53B | All 4 phases — full continental system |
| Cost per kWh | ~$1.33/kWh | vs Snowy 2.0 ~$34/kWh |
3. Aqueduct Conduit — MMC-VA Level 2
Water reaches Alice Hub via the MMC-VA Level 2 aqueduct — the second deck of the Big Bertha viaduct, a 17m × 10m sealed pressurised conduit running the full corridor length. This is not a dedicated pipeline — it is an integrated service deck on the MMC-VA structure, sharing the corridor's structural system, maintenance access, and HVDC power supply.
| Parameter | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Conduit cross-section | 17m × 10m = 170m² | Full MMC-VA corridor width and 10m depth |
| Design velocity | 2.0 m/s | Conservative — limits erosion and head loss |
| Design flow rate | 340 m³/s | At 2.0 m/s through 170m² section |
| Annual throughput (design) | ~10,730 GL/year | If running continuously — significantly exceeds Alice Hub fill rate |
| Pumped mode (north→Alice) | Sealed pressurised | Powered by corridor HVDC — excess solar |
| Gravity mode (Alice→south) | Open channel | Lid panels removed — gravity flow at corridor slope |
| Pump power required | ~2.92 GW | At 743m total dynamic head (500m lift + 243m friction) |
| Friction head loss | ~243m over 2,000km | Darcy-Weisbach, hydraulic dia 12.59m, f=0.0075 |
| Total dynamic head (pumped) | ~743m | 500m static + 243m friction |
| Solar supply needed | 12–15 GW solar | For continuous pumping — excess solar only mode viable |
| Pumping hours/day | 6–10 hrs excess solar | Part-time pumping sufficient — gorge storage is the buffer |
| The conduit does not need to pump continuously. The gorge pairs are the buffer. When solar is generating excess power (typically 6–10 hours per day in central Australia), pumps run at full capacity. The gorges absorb the daily inflow. The PHES turbines can discharge at 40GW at any time of day or night, independent of pumping. The conduit is the tap; the gorges are the tank. |
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4. Pumping Analysis — North to Alice
Pumping water 500m uphill over 2,000km requires careful head loss analysis. The static elevation gain is 500m. Pipe friction over 2,000km adds a further 243m of dynamic head at the design flow rate of 340 m³/s. Total dynamic head for the pumped system is approximately 743m.
| Parameter | Value | Calculation basis |
|---|---|---|
| Static elevation lift | 500m | Northern intake (~45m elevation) to Alice Hub lower reservoir (~545m) |
| Conduit hydraulic diameter | 12.59m | 4 × 170m² / (2 × (17+10)m) — rectangular section |
| Friction factor (f) | 0.0075 | Darcy-Weisbach — smooth concrete, fully turbulent |
| Friction head loss | ~243m | f × (L/D_h) × v²/2g = 0.0075 × (2,000,000/12.59) × 0.204 |
| Total dynamic head | ~743m | 500m static + 243m friction |
| Hydraulic power | ~2,478 MW | ρ × g × Q × H_total = 1000 × 9.81 × 340 × 743 |
| Electrical input power | ~2.92 GW | Hydraulic power ÷ 0.85 pump+motor efficiency |
| Annual energy (continuous) | ~25.5 TWh/yr | 2,920 MW × 8,760 hrs — if pumping 24/7 |
| Annual energy (excess solar only) | ~6–10 TWh/yr | At 6–10 hrs/day pumping — realistic operating mode |
| Pump station spacing | Every 50–100km | Keeps internal pressure below 8–10 MPa per segment |
| Number of pump stations | ~25–40 stations | Along 2,000km corridor — co-located with MMC-VA |
| Power source | MMC-VA HVDC corridor | Excess solar generation — effectively zero fuel cost |
| The pump stations are co-located with the MMC-VA corridor and powered directly from the 72GW HVDC backbone. When solar generation exceeds grid demand — typically mid-morning to mid-afternoon — the excess power activates the pumps automatically. The pumping cost is the marginal cost of curtailed solar: effectively zero. The water arrives at Alice Hub at no fuel cost. |
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5. Energy Storage — The PHES System
5.1 Storage Energy Calculation
The theoretical energy content of 16,000 GL at 770m average head is approximately 120,859 GWh. At 80% round-trip efficiency (pump-up then generate-back), usable storage is approximately 96,687 GWh at maximum fill. The programme-locked figure of ~30,886 GWh represents average operating conditions — the system is not always full, and the effective average head varies with fill level across the seven gorge pairs.
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total storage volume | 16,000 GL = 16,000M m³ | Seven gorge pairs at full capacity |
| Average head | 770m | Between upper gorge surface and lower reservoir |
| Theoretical energy (full) | ~120,859 GWh | ρ × g × V × h = 1000 × 9.81 × 16×10⁹ × 770 |
| Round-trip efficiency | ~80% | Pump + motor + turbine + generator losses combined |
| Usable energy (full tank) | ~96,687 GWh | Theoretical × 80% RTE |
| Programme-locked energy | ~30,886 GWh | Average operating conditions — not always full |
| Energy at Phase 1 (200 GL) | ~386 GWh | Immediate grid contribution on commissioning |
| Energy at Phase 2 (6,600 GL) | ~12,742 GWh | Exceeds Snowy 2.0 target (350 GWh) |
| Energy at Phase 3 (12,400 GL) | ~23,928 GWh | Continent-scale sovereign energy reserve |
| Energy at Phase 4 (16,000 GL) | ~30,886 GWh avg | Full system — 32 days at 40GW |
5.2 Discharge Analysis
| Scenario | Flow rate | Power output | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full discharge (40GW) | ~5,884 m³/s | 40 GW | ~32 days | All 7 gorge pairs at max output |
| Normal discharge (20GW) | ~2,942 m³/s | 20 GW | ~64 days | Half capacity — routine grid support |
| Phase 1 only (2.5GW) | ~368 m³/s | 2.5 GW | ~26 days | First gorge pair commissioned |
| Frequency control mode | Variable | 0–40 GW | Seconds | Sub-minute response with BESS support |
| Black start capability | Minimum flow | ~500 MW | Indefinite | Grid restart — no external power needed |
5.3 Refill Analysis
| Scenario | Pump power | Flow rate | Full refill time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal solar excess | ~15–20 GW | ~2,400–2,825 m³/s | ~65–86 days | Seasonal — summer solar peak fills gorges |
| Maximum pumping | ~40 GW | ~5,884 m³/s | ~31 days | Emergency mode — all capacity pumping |
| Steady state cycling | ~17.5 GW | ~2,613 m³/s | Continuous | Daily pump/generate cycle at equilibrium |
| Aqueduct supply top-up | Gravity/pumped | 340 m³/s | ~545 days | Northern water continuously replenishing via conduit |
6. Gorge Pairs — Seven Sites, A Through G
Seven gorge pairs in the MacDonnell Ranges (both West and East MacDonnell) provide the upper reservoir storage. Each pair consists of an upper reservoir (the natural gorge pound, dammed at the outlet) and a lower constructed reservoir at the base of the gorge. The 770m head differential between upper and lower water levels drives the turbine-generators.
Specific gorge names are withheld from public documents as defensive prior art protection. The ANU STORES atlas (2018) identified 1,547 potential pumped hydro sites in the Northern Territory, with many sites in the Alice Springs region offering 200–500m+ heads. The MacDonnell Ranges consistently offer the highest available heads in central Australia.
| Parameter | Per gorge pair (average) | Total system (7 pairs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage volume | ~2,286 GL | 16,000 GL | Average — varies by gorge size |
| Upper reservoir | Natural gorge pound — dammed outlet | 7 upper reservoirs | Steep quartzite walls — minimal dam height needed |
| Lower reservoir | Constructed — base of gorge | 7 lower reservoirs | Civil construction — concrete-faced rockfill |
| Generation capacity | ~5.7 GW | 40 GW | Average per pair — varies by head and flow |
| Pump capacity | ~2.5 GW normal | 17.5 GW normal | Reversible pump-turbines — same units for pump and generate |
| Head | ~770m avg | ~770m system avg | Decreases as gorge fills — avg head used for energy calc |
| Turbine type | Francis reversible | Francis reversible | Standard PHES technology — pump and generate same unit |
| Build sequence | Phase 1→4 | 2 gorges Ph1, 3 gorges Ph2, 5 gorges Ph3, 7 gorges Ph4 | Staged — each gorge adds generation and storage incrementally |
| The gorge pairs are not a new concept in Australian infrastructure thinking. In 1938, John Bradfield proposed diverting Queensland coastal rivers inland to water the continent. The MacDonnell gorges are exactly the storage sites the Bradfield Scheme lacked — natural high-head reservoirs ready to receive continental-scale water flows. The SBC programme builds the Bradfield Scheme using 21st century technology: solar power, MMC-VA corridor, and PHES turbines instead of steam pumps and open canals. |
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7. Dual Purpose — Energy Storage and Water Delivery
The Alice Hub PHES operates simultaneously as an energy storage system and a continental water distribution hub. These two functions are complementary, not competing. Water pumped uphill stores energy. Water released downhill generates energy. Net water delivered southward and eastward provides continental water security.
| Mode | Operation | Grid function | Water function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging (pumping) | Excess solar/wind → run pumps → water moves north→Alice and lower→upper reservoirs | Absorbs excess generation — prevents curtailment — stabilises frequency | Accumulates continental water reserve in gorge system |
| Discharging (generating) | Open turbines → water flows upper→lower → electricity to grid | Dispatchable firm power — any time day or night — black start capable | Net water moves downhill — available for southern distribution |
| Water export (gravity) | Open lower reservoir outlets → gravity flow south via MMC-VA aqueduct | None — gravity flow uses no power | Delivers water to southern farmers, inland towns, Murray-Darling |
| Frequency control | Rapid ramp up/down → BESS handles sub-second, PHES handles sub-minute | Primary frequency response — continental grid anchor | Minimal water movement at frequency control timescales |
| Baseload generation | Continuous slow discharge over days/weeks | Firm baseload — fills gap when solar + wind are low | Slow drawdown — managed to maintain minimum reserve |
7.1 Net Water Delivery
The system delivers net water southward by pumping more water uphill than it generates back. In practice: the northern water source provides continuous inflow via the aqueduct conduit (340 m³/s design flow). This net inflow, minus evaporation losses, represents the system's annual water export capacity to southern and inland Australia.
| Destination | Volume | Method | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs and region | ~10–20 GL/year | Local distribution from lower reservoirs | Permanent water security for central Australia |
| Inland corridor towns (MMC-VA) | ~50–100 GL/year | Gravity feed along corridor — tap-off points | Water supply for 200 corridor towns |
| Southern farmers (SA/NSW/VIC) | Hundreds to thousands GL/year | Gravity south via aqueduct in open-channel mode | Irrigation, drought-proofing, new cropping areas |
| Murray-Darling connection | Environmental flows TBD | Via Lake Eyre basin connections | Inland river system regeneration |
| Agrivoltaic zones (13.4M ha) | Distributed | Corridor tap-off at farming areas | Water for solar farm agrivoltaic agriculture |
8. World Comparison
| Project / System | Power (GW) | Storage (GWh) | Head (m) | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Hub PHES (proposed) | 40 GW | ~30,886 GWh | 770m | 32 days | WORLD RECORD — all categories |
| Fengning, China — world #1 PHES | 3.6 GW | 40 GWh | 425m | ~11 hrs | Alice Hub = 11× power, 770× storage |
| Snowy 2.0, Australia | 2.0 GW | 350 GWh | ~700m | ~7 days | Alice Hub = 20× power, 88× storage |
| Bath County, USA | 3.0 GW | ~24 GWh | 385m | ~8 hrs | Largest US plant |
| Gordon Dam, Tasmania | 0.43 GW | 12 GWh | 140m | ~28 hrs | Largest existing Australian PHES |
| All global PHES combined (2025) | ~200 GW | ~9,000 GWh | Various | Various | Alice Hub = 20% of world total power; 3.4× world total storage |
| Tesla Megapack Hornsdale (SA) | 0.15 GW | 0.19 GWh | N/A | ~1 hr | Benchmark BESS — Alice Hub = 163,000× storage |
| SNWTP Eastern Route (China) | ~0.45 GW pumping | N/A | ~65m | N/A | World's largest water transfer — similar flow, fraction of head |
| The comparison table does not fully communicate the scale differential. Alice Hub at 30,886 GWh is not a larger version of existing PHES plants. It is a categorically different class of infrastructure — measured in days of national grid supply rather than hours. At 32 days of continuous 40GW output, it is a sovereign energy reserve, not a grid balancing tool. No other country has built anything remotely comparable. |
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9. Build Sequence — Phased Commissioning
Alice Hub is built in four phases, each adding generation capacity and storage volume. Phase 1 delivers immediate grid value — 2.5GW of firm dispatchable power and 200 GL of storage — while the full system reaches completion in Phase 4 at Year 15.
| Phase | Years | Generation | Storage | Cost | Key milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Yr 1–5 | 2.5 GW | 200 GL / ~386 GWh | $3–6B | First gorge pair commissioned. Immediate grid value. Proof of concept at scale. |
| Phase 2 | Yr 5–8 | 15 GW | 6,600 GL / ~12,742 GWh | $8–15B | Exceeds Snowy 2.0. Continental-scale PHES operational. |
| Phase 3 | Yr 8–12 | 30 GW | 12,400 GL / ~23,928 GWh | $10–18B | World's largest energy storage system by a wide margin. |
| Phase 4 | Yr 12–15 | 40 GW | 16,000 GL / ~30,886 GWh | $8–14B | Full continental system. 32-day sovereign energy reserve. |
| TOTAL | Yr 1–15 | 40 GW | 16,000 GL | $29–53B | $1.33/kWh — vs Snowy 2.0 ~$34/kWh. 25× cheaper per kWh. |
| Phase 1 costs $3–6B and delivers 2.5GW of firm dispatchable power — comparable to Snowy 2.0's full output at approximately 10–20% of Snowy 2.0's cost. Phase 1 alone justifies the entire programme. Each subsequent phase adds capacity at marginal cost with no additional infrastructure establishment cost — the Megafactory, the corridor, and the grid connections are already built. |
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10. Engineering Caveats and Next Steps
| Issue | Impact | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Gorge geology and seismicity | Central Australia has low but non-zero seismic risk; gorge wall stability under reservoir loading | Geotechnical investigation — bore logs, seismic survey per gorge site |
| Evaporation losses | Central Australian pan evaporation 2–3m/year — open reservoir loses 5–15% annually | Prefer narrow deep gorges; floating covers on lower reservoirs; include in water budget |
| Aboriginal cultural heritage | MacDonnell gorges hold deep Arrernte cultural significance — most within Tjoritja National Park | Co-design process with Traditional Owners — essential precondition for any development |
| Energy calculation variance | 30,886 GWh locked figure represents average conditions; theoretical max is 96,687 GWh at full fill with full head | Detailed reservoir routing model — fill/draw curves per gorge pair across seasonal cycle |
| Conduit friction losses | 243m friction head adds 33% to pump power over 2,000km | Detailed hydraulic model — booster station spacing, pressure management, pipe roughness |
| Net water delivery volume | Actual annual delivery depends on pumping hours, evaporation, agricultural demand | Full water balance model — inflow, storage, evaporation, demand, export |
| Reversible pump-turbine procurement | 40GW of reversible pump-turbines is 11× the world's largest existing installation | International procurement — staged across 4 phases. Each phase uses proven technology. |
| Environmental flows | Southern water delivery must consider ecological requirements of inland rivers | Environmental flow assessment — Lake Eyre basin, Murray-Darling connections |
Pre-feasibility grade — ±30% of detailed design values. Detailed engineering by qualified civil, hydraulic, and geotechnical engineers required before any binding use. Contact brett.murrell21@gmail.com.
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