Australia’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 pumped hydro storage project has seen its projected cost double for the second time, now reaching $12 billion AUD ($7.65 billion USD) according to a new review. The 2 GW project was originally intended to be complete in 2021, then in time for coal closures in 2025, now the expected date is December 2029. The project’s new CEO, Dennis Barnes, cites delays with a boring machine needed to dig a 27-kilometer tunnel. The project retains the support of the government, but some commentary would see it ditched in favour of battery storage. The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales are seeking 2.4 GWh of energy storage, likely taking the form of 600 MW 4-hour…