‘15-km deep and they stopped’: Australia’s tunnel reveals an eerie discovery

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Tunnel vision

[{"selector":"#anim-009168b7-2614-4e43-bd8f-e7bd45130d73 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.69295285443614%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Snowy 2.0 project aims to carve a 15-km tunnel under Australia’s Snowy Mountains for renewable energy storage.

Energy ambition

[{"selector":"#anim-0a54b045-d2b7-4db2-b3a6-dde8b322b25c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.93438168125631%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This pumped-hydro project seeks to stabilize Australia’s energy grid, linking reservoirs via 27 km of tunnels.

Florence digs

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Geological twist

[{"selector":"#anim-8fe94ab5-d569-430c-9fe9-abe04e2386a1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.254687386254172%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Unexpected unstable rock layers forced a halt, highlighting the risks of deep Earth tunneling.

Hidden structures

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Progress paused

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Hydro blasts

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Key milestones

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Energy future

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