Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says the Turnbull Government’s expansion of the iconic Snowy Hydro scheme will continue the innovative nation-building Post War work of his grandfather, the chief engineer of the original ‘Snowy’.

Snowy Mountains Scheme 2.0 will increase the generation of the Snowy Hydro by 50 per cent, adding 2000 megawatts of renewable energy to the National Electricity Market - enough to power 500,000 homes.

“As the grandson of Sir William Hudson - the commissioner and chief engineer of the Snowy Scheme throughout construction - I'm incredibly proud that the Snowy will play such an important role in our future, not just our past,” Mr Taylor said.

“My grandfather believed that one of the Snowy's greatest engineering attributes was its ability to provide pump storage.

“That's exactly what the announcement today (16 March 2017) is all about. The Snowy embodies the sort of nation building we should aspire for. It stood for extremely hard working teams of new and old Australians, committed to a better future.

“It looked beyond people's ethnic origins or creeds, and focused on what they could contribute to our vibrant young country. And it understood that there is far more to nation building than just big bucks. Like its workers, every dollar of taxpayers’ money was treated with respect.”

Mr Taylor said the unprecedented expansion plans will help make renewables reliable, filling in holes caused by intermittent supply and generator outages. It will enable greater energy efficiency and help stabilise electricity supply into the future.

“The Snowy will become this country's biggest battery, based on the brilliance, hard work and self-belief of that great Post War generation,” Mr Taylor said.

“I am personally inspired to be part of a government that will build upon that generation’s enduring legacy for the benefit of the nation.”

He said by “supercharging” the Snowy Hydro precinct, the Government can ensure affordable and reliable electricity for Australian households and businesses.

“We are making energy storage infrastructure a critical priority to ensure better integration of wind and solar into the energy market and more efficient use of conventional power,” Mr Taylor said.

The Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, will examine several sites, which could support large scale pumped hydroelectric energy storage in the precinct.

These sites would involve new tunnels and power stations, connecting existing storages.

Snowy Hydro was originally built with the capability to be expanded, and the Turnbull Government intends on maximizing that capacity.

“An ‘all of the above’ approach - including hydro, solar, coal and gas - is critical to future energy supplies,” Mr Taylor said.

Snowy Hydro already provides back-up energy to New South Wales and Victoria and could extend to South Australia when expanded.

This exciting plan would lead to job creation and economic security for thousands in the construction and engineering sectors.

It will have no impact on the scheme’s ability to supply water to irrigators in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.

A feasibility study is expected to be completed before the end of the year, and construction can commence soon after.