Tasmania’s renewable energy credentials are the envy of the nation and Hydro Tasmania continues to invest in upgrading infrastructure to get the most out of its hydropower generation.
One of the major projects in the past year was the $32 million upgrade of the Lake Echo Power Station to allow for remote operation to help increase flexibility and the ability of the station to produce more clean dispatchable electricity.
This project took 15 months to complete, with up to 40 people working on site and has resulted in increased turbine efficiency. The 34MW power station releases water downstream to a further seven power stations also benefiting recreational water use and irrigation.
Significant progress was also made on other modernisation and maintenance programs for Trevallyn and Catagunya power stations and investment in the Bass Strait island service capacity to meet increased consumer connection demand.
Hydro Tasmania invested approximately $100 million refurbishing its renewable energy assets last financial year.
Hydro Tasmania’s 2021-22 annual report shows a strong financial performance with a profit of $149 million which will return a strong dividend to the people of Tasmania in terms of vital infrastructure and services.
Hydro Tasmania prudently managed storages through an inconsistent year of rainfall inflows.
Hydro Tasmania has also played an integral part in Tasmania’s progress toward our Battery of the Nation ambitions and Tasmania’s legislated target of 200 per cent renewable energy by 2040.
This includes progress on the $750 million project to redevelop Tarraleah hydropower scheme approximately doubling its capacity and further feasibility assessment on the pumped hydro site at Lake Cethana and subject to a positive final investment decision will see a $1.5 billion 750MW power station be constructed.
Tasmanians should be justifiably proud of the more than 100 years of Hydro Tasmania history and investment in renewable energy and the fact that Tasmania leads the nation by being 100 per cent self-sufficient in renewable electricity.
The Tasmanian Government also believes that the historic partnership with the Australian Government to advance Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation represents one of the greatest inter-generational energy and jobs opportunities in Tasmania’s history as well as complimenting the development of green hydrogen.