Our Energy Supply Plan, combined with recent rainfall is ensuring energy security for Tasmania.
Welcome rains have boosted Tasmania’s water storages over the past week. Water storages are now at 16.1 per cent, an increase of 3.1 per cent over the week.
The last time water storages increased by greater than three per cent in a week was in the week to 11 May 2015, effectively the same time last year.
The recent rains are very welcome and mean our situation is significantly improved but the energy crisis is not over. There is a long road ahead to rebuild our dams and it will require careful ongoing management and a lot of hard work. That's why our Energy Supply Plan continues to be so important.
As a consequence of recent inflows Hydro Tasmania has been making careful decisions in its use of available generation to reduce any potential for wastage of water. Over the course of the last week or so Hydro Tasmania has predominantly been generating from run-of-river systems such as the Mersey-Forth system and reduced the level of diesel and gas generation. Using the run-of-river system in this way also helps take pressure off the larger storages in the Great Lake and Lake Gordon systems.
The storage level at Lake Gordon has increased by 1.2 per cent to 7.7 per cent and Great Lake has increase by 1.7 per cent to be at 12.6 per cent.
While this is a step in the right direction, the State still faces significant challenges and we remain committed to continuing to implement the Energy Supply Plan.
Hydro Tasmania is continuing to roll out the balance of the temporary additional generation. Three 25MW dual fuel units are currently being installed at the former thermal power station site at Bell Bay. Hydro Tasmania has advised that it will begin commissioning the first of the three units this week.
Generation from the Tamar Valley Power Station was reduced during the week to take advantage of rainfall and to reduce the chance of water storages in some areas spilling due to inflows. Hydro Tasmania has also advised it has used this opportunity to undertake maintenance on the Trent unit’s exhaust system.
Basslink continues to advise that the return to service date of the interconnector is mid-June. However, this is dependent on suitable weather conditions and the Energy Supply Plan is being rolled out to ensure energy security for Tasmania in the meantime.
Hydro Tasmania and the Government will continue to provide regular updates on the Energy Supply Plan. Tasmanians can be assured we will do everything necessary to maintain energy security and that the Plan is working.