Tasmania’s Hydro dams might become gigantic storage “batteries” for wind power, boosting productivity, energy security and state income from power exports.
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Adoption of “pumped storage hydro” technology could underpin a revolution in energy generation without the need for controversial new dams.
Put simply, it would involve using wind turbines, or possibly solar energy, to power the pumping of water into dam storages from downstream storages or rivers, so the same water could be used repeatedly to drive turbines and create energy.
In effect, it would turn the dams into “batteries” for wind or solar power.
The state government is keen to get federal cash for pumped energy projects under an expected competitive funding round for large-scale energy storage.
“The Tasmanian hydro system effectively works as a pumped storage for the National Electricity Market while providing Tasmania with affordable, secure and zero emission electricity,” state Energy Minister Matthew Groom said.
“Additional pumped storage has the potential to increase the amount of clean, renewable baseload energy while ensuring a secure electricity supply system.
“The Hodgman Government welcomes the federal government’s interest in this exciting technology and a Tasmanian government delegation will meet with federal counterparts in Canberra later this month to discuss how we can best maximise the opportunity pumped hydro can deliver for Tasmania.”
It is possible announcements will be made in or close to the federal budget in May.
Hydro Tasmania’s consulting firm, Entura, recently completed a pumped storage hydro feasibility study in Queensland, and said it showed the approach was technically and commercially feasible.
Federal Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg told Fairfax Tasmania on Tuesday energy security and affordability were the government’s priorities as Australia moved to a lower emissions future.
“As the Prime Minister has said, we are taking a technology-neutral, non-ideological approach to emissions reduction while meeting our energy needs,” he said.
“The government continues to place a high priority on storage, including pumped hydro, with the recent announcement that storage projects will be given priority by the CEFC (Clean Energy Finance Corporation) and ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency).
“Storage is critical in managing the challenges posed by intermittent sources of generation.”