Climate change

Climate change has strategic implications for Hydro Tasmania. We see ourselves as part of the solution because we generate renewable energy. On the other hand, changes to climatic conditions present risks to our operations because rainfall patterns will change.

We have been working with CSIRO on the Tasmania Sustainable Yields Project and ACE-CRC on Climate Futures for Tasmania to understand what will happen to water inflows in the future. This research tells us that we should expect to see fewer very wet years in the near future. We are using this information in our hydrological models to manage risks to long-term storage yields and environmental impacts. 

Climate change strategy

Hydro Tasmania is reviewing its climate change strategy and targets because, since our first strategy was put in place in 2007, much has changed at Hydro Tasmania, in the climate change debate and in the national climate change policy. We expect to start in 2012.

In the meantime we remain committed to reducing our emissions, acting on energy efficiency opportunities and meeting carbon neutral offset commitments for Entura.

Our carbon footprint

CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas emitted from our activities. It comes from three main sources:

• diesel-powered generation at King and Flinders Islands' power stations (36 per cent)
• fleet vehicles
• electricity consumption in buildings and facilities, including offices and pump stations.

With only renewable energy, Hydro Tasmania's total emissions for the 2010-2011 financial year were 44 282 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e). That’s very little for an energy generator. We are working on reducing our emissions further.