Tasmania's Draft Renewable Energy Coordination Framework has been released and is now open for public submissions. This document focuses on how to deliver orderly, sustainable and integrated large-scale renewable energy projects needed to unlock generation capacity, to achieve the Tasmania's 200% renewables target and ensure Tasmania is well placed to respond to the rapidly evolving National Electricity Market (NEM) transition. The Framework has considered key areas of interest including: [...]

Are you interested in finding out more about the proposed pumped hydro project at Lake Cethana? Information sessions will be held soon at Sheffield, Moina and Lorinna. Late last year, Lake Cethana was announced as the preferred first site to progress a feasibility assessment for pumped hydro, as part of Hydro Tasmania's Battery of the Nation initiative. Lake Cethana Pumped Hydro will take water from the western side of [...]

Are you planning to attend one of the information days this week for St Patricks Plains Wind Farm? You will need to register today by providing your name and email or phone number to Donna Bolton Email: [email protected] You can also keep up to date by joining the project's mailing list The revised layout involves 50 wind turbines. Twenty-one wind turbines from the earlier 67 turbine layout have been removed, [...]

The Australian Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) has proposed a scenario of future electricity demand that includes growing hydrogen usage. Domestic consumption will be for replacing natural gas consumption, fueling heavy vehicles such as trucks and trains, and generating grid electricity during peak demand. Also under this scenario, a strong, emerging export economy is assumed to start from 2030. Nationally, 5 million tonnes of hydrogen could be produced from grid connected [...]

Last year, the global prices of gas fell to record lows as the coronavirus cut demand. In recent weeks however, prices in Asia have surged to all-time highs. In many Euopean countries such as Spain, cold weather has almost stopped renewable energy generation for days on end as snow covers solar panels and the air is still. Meanwhile, gas supply is tightening due to a shortage of available LNG vessels. [...]

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has commenced work preparing its biennial Integrated System Plan (ISP). This plan outlines pathways for Australia's electricity grid to remain secure and reliable as it transitions from retiring coal-fired power stations towards dispersed and variable wind and solar generation. In last year's plan, five transition scenarios were modelled, ranging from "Slow Change", where technology cost reductions slow down and consumer motivation reduces, to [...]

Marinus Link's Route Options Report Overview was recently released. The document provides an overview of the route selection process and the proposed route for Marinus Link, with a focus on the land section. The report is a resource to inform the community and to outline opportunities to provide input into the project and development of the preferred route. Over the next few months, TasNetworks will be undertaking ecological, cultural [...]

The Blue Economy CRC recently announced the acquisition of infrastructure to develop an offshore hydrogen microgrid for research and training. It consists of a 700kW electrolyser, a microturbine and a microgrid.The construction of the microgrid will take approximately one year with the final infrastructure anticipated to be co-located with the University of Tasmania in the North West.This will be the largest hydrogen electrolyser in Tasmania and amongst the largest in [...]

The Energy and Infrastructure Training Market Development Fund is a Department of State Growth program to support Tasmania to build a skilled workforce equipped with the expertise needed for major energy, infrastructure and related initiatives. The Fund provides grants to support the capacity building of training providers (including trainer recruitment, upskilling trainers and supporting trainers to relocate) as well as developing courses and delivery methods that meet the needs of [...]

Later this month, community information sessions will be held at Bothwell and Miena. You will be able to find out the latest about the proposed St Patricks Plains Wind Farm development in the Central Highlands, including a revised layout following completion of a number of specialist studies and extensive community consultation. RSVP by the 27th of January is essential. You can find out more here The sessions will be held [...]