NZ InfraWatch
Open the live map →
Lake Onslow Pumped Hydro
Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium (private) · Otago
A proposed pumped-hydro battery at Lake Onslow, Central Otago, for dry-year energy security. The $8b shown is the bottom of the published $8-10b range for the scheme now being consented by the Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium, which entered fast-track consenting in March 2026. The cancelled government scheme's $15.7b is history, not this cost.
Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Otago
- Sector
- Energy
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $8b
- Indicative completion
- 2035
- Funding status
- No Source
- Lead organisation
- Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium (private)
- Election risk
- Extreme
Election risk assessment
Cancelled by National in 2024, then accepted for fast-track consent in 2026 via a private consortium, highly speculative, capital-intensive and politically contested.
Government priority alignment
COUNTER: Cancelled. Counter to the government's fast-track-renewables energy approach.
Recent changes
- 2026-W37Major Status: Cancelled → Planning.
- 2026-W37Major Estimated value down 50%: $16b → $8b.
- 2026-W37Info Owner: Meridian Energy / Crown → Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium (private).
Chronology
- 2022NZ Battery Project business case; cost estimated $4-16B
- 2023Indicative Business Case: Lake Onslow cost estimate rises to $15.7b, a P50 figure up from ~$4b (March)
- 2024National cancels Lake Onslow (January)
- 2026Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium accepted into fast-track consenting (March); ~$8-10b, operating by ~2035 if it proceeds
Source
RNZ: Lake Onslow pumped hydro cost estimate rises almost 300 percent to $15.7b (2023) ↗ · interest.co.nz: Government puts $15.7b price tag on Lake Onslow pumped hydro ↗ · RNZ: Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme considered for fast-track by government (2026) ↗