The Tasmanian Government welcomes the Federal Government’s New Generation Investments Program as an opportunity to progress our exciting Battery of the Nation pumped hydro plans.
Tasmania has what the rest of the nation needs, and pumped hydro is one of the best technologies available to provide low cost reliable and clean energy.
Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation project has identified 14 high potential pumped hydro sites which could support the national electricity market, double our energy capacity and provide billions in investment and thousands of jobs in Tasmania.
Developing these opportunities will help meet the aims of our Tasmania First energy policy by guaranteeing Tasmania’s energy security, putting downward pressure on prices, and creating a huge economic boost for Tasmania, while also helping to bolster the National Energy Market.
Tasmania was recently recognised by the Economic Regulator as having the lowest regulated electricity prices for residential and business customers in Australia.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government on progressing new energy developments in Tasmania, supported by a second Bass Strait interconnector.
A Hydro Tasmania report released today confirms that 400MW of latent dispatchable capacity could be almost immediately unlocked with further interconnection across Bass Strait, further building the case for a second interconnector.
This further cements Tasmania as the renewable energy powerhouse of the nation and our place in the National Electricity Market. It confirms the benefits of our Tasmania first energy policy under the Hodgman Majority Liberal Government.