Tasmania’s reliable hydro electricity generation already plays a key role in supporting supply and price stability in the National Electricity Market (NEM). Major events, such as the widespread bushfires earlier this year, result in the national transmission system being placed under immense stress. TransGrid’s (NSW) Transmission Annual Planning Report highlights the growing need for significant transmission and interconnection upgrades to ensure widespread renewable energy generation can replace upcoming coal fired power station retirements.

On the 31st of January 2020, Victoria experienced maximum demand and multiple constraints that approached their binding limit. This image shows the interstate power flows during this event. National maximum demand events reveal not only widespread transmission constraints, but also the critical role Tasmania already plays in supporting national electricity supply.

You can find TransGrid’s 2020 Transmission Annual Planning Report here

Image: TransGrid’s 2020 Transmission Annual Planning Report