Tasmania has already established itself as the nation’s number one renewable state, but we have an opportunity to take our potential to the next level.
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A range of exciting initiatives were recently announced, which will unlock Tasmania’s nation-leading potential in renewable energy.
A report by Australia’s leading renewable energy body, ARENA, identified 14 ‘high potential’ pumped energy storage sites in our Central Highlands and on the North and West Coasts.
Combined, they could deliver up to 4800 megawatts of new energy capacity. The next step is to narrow down these 14 high potential sites to ‘executable’ projects estimated to deliver 2500 megawatts, which is double the existing hydro electric capacity.
Make no mistake, this is a game-changing, state-building, nation-leading discovery and underpins the future of the energy sector. With the potential to create up to 3000 jobs and generate up to $5 billion in investment, this is an incredible leap forward.
A second report released by ARENA cemented what many here in Tasmania already knew – that we can deliver the lowest energy costs in the nation. This report confirmed that Tasmania should make a pumped hydro investment a national priority.
Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says they are “nation-building infrastructure projects”. As more coal fired power stations retire and more intermittent renewables such as wind enter the market, a reliable energy source is required to fill that gap.
Tasmania’s geography and topography and the location of our existing hydro assets make our state strategically placed to deliver low cost, 100 per cent renewable dispatchable power – energy on tap.
Currently, we have 30 power stations spread across the heart of Tasmania, established through decades of toil and innovation by our forebears over the Tasmanian era known as ‘hydro-industrialisation’.
Pumped hydro energy storage is next generation hydro for Tasmania. Put simply, it involves pumping water uphill to a storage reservoir and releasing it through a turbine to provide additional energy into the electricity grid when needed.
However, it’s not just about next generation hydro, with Tasmania’s world-class wind potential also playing a critical role in the state’s energy future.
Cattle Hill and Granville Harbour wind farms are already underway, with plans for expansion elsewhere, including at Robbins Island.
ARENA’s The Battery of the Nation - analysis of the future National Electricity Market report states Tasmania’s “flexible hydro power… could translate to a 20 per cent reduction in energy costs and an additional reduction of up to nine million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year”.
New and increased interconnection underpins this development, and the Australian government agrees referring to it as ‘national infrastructure’ and Infrastructure Australia considering it as a ‘priority’.
A number of potential terminal sites on mainland Victoria and across Northern Tasmania have been identified. TasNetworks is reviewing and last week met with cable manufactures in Europe to discuss.
The Hodgman Liberal government is working with the Turnbull Liberal government to capitalise on our unique renewable energy advantage to create more jobs, investment and low cost power that will deliver benefits for Tasmanians.
- Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy
