One of the actions in the Draft Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan 2020 is to "undertake community consultation on an ambitious net zero emissions target". Tasmania already has a net zero emissions target of 2050, in line with other states, but the Action Plan comments that there may be opportunity to adopt a more ambitious target. While our electricity is already at almost 100% renewable, Tasmania still produces emissions through [...]

If you have trade or maintenance experience and are looking for a start in the renewable energy industry, Hydro Tasmania currently has positions open for Trainee Maintenance Assistants. Two of the roles will be based on the Cradle Coast at Tullah and Gowrie Park. Under the guidance of senior technicians you'll be working alongside some of the state's best tradespeople across our unique hydro generation assets, inside power stations and [...]

What will renewable energy jobs look like on the Cradle Coast? A report earlier this year by the Clean Energy Council and Institute for Sustainable Futures looked at part of the renewable energy workforce including direct jobs (development, construction/ installation, operation, maintenance, manufacturing) and some indirect jobs (transport, warehousing). The study did not include induced jobs (e.g. expenditure of construction workers in regional towns) or areas such as electricity networks [...]

The Future Energy hub is proud to have contributed to "The Future for Renewable Energy Opportunities for Tasmania", published by Regional Development Australia Tasmania. The report includes some interesting insights into Tasmania’s potential energy future, examines the benefits for regional Tasmania, and discusses possible funding models for the critical enabling infrastructure: Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation. You can find the report here

TasNetworks held drop-in sessions yesterday and today at the Future Energy Hub to discuss the revised route for the Staverton to Hampshire Hills section of the North West Transmission Developments. A detailed, large scale map is available here (*note - map is very high resolution and may be slow to load). TasNetworks are asking for feedback for their Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, which is open until the 2nd of [...]

23 expressions of Interest have been received for the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding Program. Applications closed on the 18th of August. Applicants were invited to submit expressions of interest for projects and feasibility studies related to renewable hydrogen production, storage, distribution, export and domestic use within Tasmania. Burnie is identified in the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan as a potential hydrogen production hub. #cradlecoastgoodenergy #hereforgood The applications received [...]

Two of Tasmania's wind farms are leading the nation in trialing innovative technology to reduce the risk of collisions with wedge-tailed eagles. Musselroe Wind Farm is undertaking an Australian first trial of ‘Max’ radar technology, developed by Dutch company Robin Radars. It provides full 3D coverage from the horizon, up to one kilometre in height, and can automatically detect and log hundreds of birds simultaneously and can initiate the shutdown [...]

New data from the Clean Energy Council has revealed that the number of committed large-scale renewable energy projects nationally is at its lowest level since 2017, and just three projects reached final close in the second quarter of 2020. Investments in the electricity transmission network have not kept pace with the rapid deployment of wind and solar farms. “AEMO’s 2020 Integrated System Plan (ISP) has delivered a clear roadmap for [...]

With Tasmania's electricity supply almost at 100% renewable generation, the next big challenge for our state's energy transition is in transport and industry. Replacing imported fossil fuels such as natural gas and diesel with Tasmanian generated renewable energy will increase our self sufficiency and create economic opportunities. The decarbonisation of some transport (road freight, aviation and shipping) and industry (chemicals, cement, minerals and metal processing) sectors will be very challenging [...]