The Tasmanian Energy Security Taskforce has today released its Interim Report.
The Taskforce affirms in its Interim Report that Tasmania’s energy security is the responsibility of the Tasmanian Government and it sets out recommendations to clarify the roles and strengthen the frameworks that support the Government in achieving this responsibility.
The Taskforce assesses that there is no immediate risk to energy security after the higher than average rainfall this past winter.
The Taskforce has recommended five priority actions for the Tasmanian Government.
The Taskforce Chair, Mr Geoff Willis AM, said “the Taskforce’s priority actions, which are supported by 32 recommendations, have been designed to ensure households and businesses can have high level of confidence that their energy needs will be met.”
The Taskforce has developed an energy security assessment framework to consider both electricity and gas energy security. The emphasis in the Interim Report is on Tasmania’s near term situation, whereas the Final Report will examine a number of emerging issues that will need to be addressed in maintaining energy security.
The Taskforce has recognised the importance of water storage management for Tasmanian energy security, and a new Energy Security Risk Response Framework is recommended to enhance monitoring and management of water storages.
“We have recommended a new framework for how water storages should be managed” said Mr Willis.
“We recommend that minimum storage levels be based on more conservative assumptions and that the agreed levels be independently monitored. Whilst there is still some work to be done before our final recommendations, our analysis indicates that water storages should be no lower than the interim storage targets of 30 per cent at the end of June and 40 per cent at the end of October that Hydro Tasmania has put in place following the events of 2015-16.”
“We also conclude that the Tamar Valley Power Station should be retained as back-up at least while Tasmania’s annual on-island electricity consumption exceeds on-island generation.”
Mr Willis thanked the other members of the Taskforce, Ms Sibylle Krieger and Mr Tony Concannon for their significant contributions to the development of the Interim Report. Mr Willis said “Sibylle and Tony have brought a wealth of international and national experience and insights to the Taskforce that have provided valuable insights to the review of Tasmania’s energy security risks and opportunities.”
The Taskforce will now turn its attention to developing its Final Report, which is due to be delivered in June 2017.
Mr Willis said “the Taskforce will be focussing on medium to longer term solutions to the challenges we have identified in the Interim Report. In that time, we expect to receive and review more information, including the outcome of the joint Australian and Tasmanian Government feasibility study into a second Bass Strait electricity interconnector.”
Mr Willis also thanked the many stakeholders who have engaged with the Taskforce to this point.
To view the report online please go to www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/tasmanian_energy_security_taskforce/interim_report