A new study shows Tasmania well on track to transform Australia’s electricity market through development of renewable energy, such as pumped hydro.
This could be achieved by developing wind farms, hydro-electric power plants and pumped hydro energy storage, according to the Hydro Tasmania report.
A new connection between Tasmania and the mainland would then harness these resources to help Australia meet future energy needs.
Funding boosts ‘Battery of the Nation’
The Future State NEM analysis received $500,000 funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). It forms a blueprint for Tasmania’s role in the National Electricity Market (NEM) over the next two decades.
Meanwhile, ARENA has committed up to $2.5 million for Hydro Tasmania’s ‘Battery of the Nation’ project. This then aims to double the island’s existing renewable capacity.
Interconnection vital for Australia’s electricity market
According to the study, Tasmania has potential to expand its NEM role and offer viable, cost-effective energy storage for the Australian mainland.
That’s the message from ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht who says more interconnection is essential to achieve this goal. Even allowing for the costs involved, Tasmania can still support the NEM effectively he says.
A second interconnector is therefore needed to unlock greater wind generation, Frischknecht claims.
ARENA has subsequently granted TasNetworks a sum of $10 million. This will fund a technical and commercial feasibility study for a second interconnector from Tasmania to the mainland.
A second connection could optimise Tasmania’s diverse wind resources. Electricity would then be generated at different times from wind farms on the Australian mainland.
Pumped hydro offers large-scale energy storage for mainland
Because renewable energy storage is increasingly important, Tasmania’s potential for pumped hydro is a great opportunity for the nation says Frischknecht.
Another study released by Hydro Tasmania this week also shows pumped hydro could generate 4,800 MW of potential capacity across 14 Tasmanian sites.
Pumped hydroelectric energy storage is used to balance load in electric power systems. Stored water is released through turbines during peak demand to produce electricity.
This contrasts with other forms of commercial energy storage like Tesla’s lithium-ion Powerpack battery at Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia.
Home battery storage is generally provided by small-scale batteries like the Tesla Powerwall 2. This stores daytime energy from rooftop solar panels for use during the evening peak or overnight.
