THE state and federal governments are talking up the potential for more wind turbines in Tasmania in the wake of a deal on the Renewable Energy Target. But a senior energy strategist insists the state must address the challenge of transmitting power interstate if it is to capitalise on the revised deal. After almost 12 months of political wrangling, the Commonwealth Government and Opposition this week reached a compromise on the RET. Clean Energy Regulator chief executive Chloe Monroe told a Senate inquiry yesterday that another 1000 turbines would need to be built within five years to meet the new target of 33,000 gigawatt hours. Environment Minister Greg Hunt is confident the deal will mean more investment in Tasmanian wind farms. Premier Will Hodgman agrees, saying the agreement opens the door to potential renewable developments. ‘‘Tasmania as a renewable energy state has tremendous capacity, I believe, into the future,’’ Mr Hodgman said. But Pitt and Sherry energy strategies principal consultant Hugh Saddler said any new turbines would need to compete against Woolnorth and Mussleroe for capacity across Basslink, with the two sites already dominating transmission over the cable during peak periods. Dr Saddler welcomed news that Hydro Tasmania is again investigating the potential for a second Basslink cable to Victoria. The government-owned company was last week handed $325,000 to partner with the Department of State Growth to examine the case for a second connector. The study will investigate the feasibility of a second cable under a range of market scenarios. ‘‘There are a lot of times Basslink is at full capacity, which would handicap any new wind project,’’ Dr Saddler said. ‘‘A second cable would solve that problem by linking extra Tasmanian wind farms straight into the Victorian system.’’
THE state and federal governments are talking up the potential for more wind turbines in Tasmania in the wake of a deal on the Renewable Energy Target.
Premier Will Hodgma
But a senior energy strategist insists the state must address the challenge of transmitting power interstate if it is to capitalise on the revised deal.
After almost 12 months of political wrangling, the Commonwealth Government and Opposition this week reached a compromise on the RET.
Clean Energy Regulator chief executive Chloe Monroe told a Senate inquiry yesterday that another 1000 turbines would need to be built within five years to meet the new target of 33,000 gigawatt hours.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt is confident the deal will mean more investment in Tasmanian wind farms.
Premier Will Hodgman agrees, saying the agreement opens the door to potential renewable developments.
‘‘Tasmania as a renewable energy state has tremendous capacity, I believe, into the future,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
But Pitt and Sherry energy strategies principal consultant Hugh Saddler said any new turbines would need to compete against Woolnorth and Mussleroe for capacity across Basslink, with the two sites already dominating transmission over the cable during peak periods.
Dr Saddler welcomed news that Hydro Tasmania is again investigating the potential for a second Basslink cable to Victoria.
The government-owned company was last week handed $325,000 to partner with the Department of State Growth to examine the case for a second connector.
The study will investigate the feasibility of a second cable under a range of market scenarios.
‘‘There are a lot of times Basslink is at full capacity, which would handicap any new wind project,’’ Dr Saddler said.
‘‘A second cable would solve that problem by linking extra Tasmanian wind farms straight into the Victorian system.’’
