From humble beginnings nearly 130 years ago when Launceston became the first city in the country to have street lighting powered by renewable energy to today, where the state is 100 per cent self-sufficient - Tasmania has long been a clean energy powerhouse.
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The state's future as a green energy hub is well underway and looking promising according to experts in the field.
Representatives from key players in the national energy industry, including Origin Energy and Woodside Energy, joined the Northern Tasmanian Development Corporation, the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone for a breakfast forum on Thursday to share plans.
In his opening address, Premier Peter Gutwein acknowledged that despite the challenges faced in 2020, Tasmania remained a leader in the world when it comes to renewable energy.
"We are well renowned for our innovation and ingenuity, and as the global supply and use of energy is dramatically shifting, and countries around the world are looking to clean, reliable and importantly renewable energy to decarbonise their economies, we are in an enviable position," he said.
"As a state, we led the country in terms of network development, becoming the first jurisdiction in the country to put in place a transmission network of scale when we delivered the 100km transmission line from the Waddamana power station in Central Tasmania through to Hobart in 1916.
"We were in front of the curve then and we remain in front of the curve now. We have set ambitious targets and achieved them.
"We have already reached our target to be 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewable electricity, much earlier than our 2022 goal, making us the first state in Australia to generate more renewable electricity than we need."
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With government targets now looking towards exporting both interstates and globally within the next ten years, green hydrogen production has the potential to be a game-changer for Northern Tasmania in terms of employment and cementing the state's renewable energy reputation.
One of the forum participants, Origin Energy general manager future fuels Felicity Underhill discussed the company's plan to create a green hydrogen and ammonia plant in the state.
"Tasmania has fantastic potential, something other countries and states want but don't have," Ms Underhill said.
"By creating a green hydrogen and ammonia industry here we can export that great potential out to the world.
"All the proponents here today want to see that industry happen here in Tasmania."
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Ms Underhill said the projects have the potential to constitute a multi-million dollar industry based out of Bell Bay.
"Origin Energy believes global demand for green hydrogen and ammonia can support those projects and continue to grow," she said.
Woodside Energy new energy opportunity manager green hydrogen Australia Tim Conroy said the company was looking at creating a hub in Bell Bay, with plans to start by 2022.
"The time for talk is over," he said.
"We're looking at a staged approach to hydrogen, and by travelling here we really see the potential in Tasmania."
Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone chief executive Susie Bower said creating a hydrogen and energy hub in the area was all about collaboration.
"It's about what this can bring for not just the economic future of the area but Tasmania," she said.
One of the parts Ms Bower was most excited about is the employment opportunities it would bring to the area, with each potential project to bring upwards of 100 jobs.
"A couple of the projects are expected to hit the ground running in the next year or so, but others are still a few years away," she said.
"It gives us that injection straight away, but with a high youth unemployment rate, it gives us that time to start, building up those qualifications and not only keep our young people here and get them employed but attract people here.
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