Tasmania has taken another step towards doubling its clean energy and securing the lowest possible future power prices, with the identification of 14 high potential pumped hydro opportunities around the state. 

Pumped hydro potential for Tasmania

These options would provide significantly more megawatts of reliable cost-effective pumped hydro potential than the 2500 megawatts initially anticipated. Hydro Tasmania could have executable projects within a matter of months. The first project could start construction as early as 2020, with a 3-4 year construction phase.

These outcomes further strengthen the case for more interconnection across Bass Strait, which would also unlock Tasmania’s untapped wind energy potential.

We will now investigate the 14 options in detail, to narrow them down to a smaller number of sites, equivalent to about 2500 megawatts of potential. There’ll be regional community information sessions in late July / early August to provide more details.

Below is further information about the pumped hydro project. We encourage you to contact us for more information and to ask any further questions.

What are the 14 pumped hydro options?

In the Mersey-Forth region, we’re looking at the following pumped hydro options.

On the West Coast of Tasmania, we’re looking at the following pumped hydro options.

In the state’s central region, we’re looking at the following pumped hydro options.

Why are these seen as high potential options?

• These options are seen as high potential for a number of reasons.  This includes their location (they’re near existing hydropower assets and avoid environmentally sensitive areas), geography (located near high, steep hills), estimated costs and their potential energy storage capacity.

What happens next?

• Hydro Tasmania will now investigate the 14 options in detail, to narrow them down to a smaller number of sites, equivalent to about 2500 megawatts of potential. Hydro Tasmania could have executable projects within a matter of months. The first project could start construction as early as 2020, with a 3-4 year construction phase.
• These detailed pre-feasibility studies may take up to 12 months across all 14 options and will look at technical, social, planning and environmental aspects.  We’ll also do site inspections to get an ‘on the ground’ look at each site and proposed option.
• Identifying these high-potential options doesn’t preclude investigating other options in the future. But it lays a platform for pre-feasibility work on those opportunities.
• There’ll be regional community information sessions in late July / early August to provide more details.

Why do we need pumped hydro?

• More than 70% of Australia’s power currently comes from coal-fired power stations that are likely to close in the next few decades.
• Wind and solar are becoming the dominant sources of new energy but they are variable. That’s simply because the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.
• That means energy storage will be crucial in the future, to help balance wind and solar energy in the system and ensure energy is reliably available when consumers need it. 
• Tasmania has natural advantages in developing pumped hydro because we have existing assets and storages, just waiting for the ‘add on’.

What’s in it for Tasmanians?

• Battery of the Nation is about locking in our island’s energy security and giving Tasmanians the lowest possible power prices.
• Battery of the Nation is not a Hydro Tasmania initiative; it’s a Tasmanian initiative. It’s designed to serve and support our communities, and will involve opportunities and contributions from right across the renewable energy sector.
• Our analysis shows Battery of the Nation would create billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs in regional Tasmania over 10 to 15 years.
• Doubling Tasmania’s clean energy would also create a surplus, beyond the state’s own needs, to support mainland Australia. That’s crucial to replace the coal power that’s being phased out.

Why is more interconnection important?

• More interconnection makes all of this viable - allowing Tasmania to get its product to market. Even with the cost of developing further interconnection, our analysis confirms Battery of the Nation is a front-runner that’s extremely competitive and cost-effective.

Are you considering projects in the World Heritage Area? 

• No, we have excluded the environmentally sensitive Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) and National Parks from our pumped hydro studies.There will be no pumped hydro sites developed in the TWWHA.

Are you planning to dam any more rivers?

• No, we are not investigating new on-river dams as part of any potential pumped hydro project.
• There is potential for development of new small off-river storages to support pumped hydro schemes.

How can I provide feedback?

• We welcome views from the Tasmanian community and will continue to keep you informed as studies progress.
• Regional community information sessions will be held in late July / early August to share more about the Battery of the Nation initiative and the pumped hydro studies, and give you the opportunity to meet the project team.
• In the meantime, we welcome your suggestions on the best way to provide project updates or for you to contact us with questions you may have.
• Send your feedback to batteryofthenation@hydro.com.au or call 1300 360 441