Coal is retiring, and as new sources of renewable energy like wind and solar are cheap and becoming more plentiful we need to maintain energy reliability, stability and security by investing in dispatchable capacity.
Pumped hydro will form a huge part of that. It represents the next generation of Tasmanian hydropower, and lets us re-use our hydro water again and again to create clean energy.
Our studies have found huge pumped hydro development potential in the state – the 14 options represent around 4800 megawatts of reliable, cost effective capacity. Lake Cethana, Lake Rowallan and Tribute have emerged as the most promising pumped hydro sites in Tasmania following studies done over the past 20 months looking at the state’s potential.
These outcomes further strengthen the case for more interconnection across Bass Strait, which would also unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential in both our existing hydropower system and future development potential. Below is further information about the pumped hydro project. We encourage you to contact us for more information and to ask any further questions.
The map shows the three sites - at Lake Cethana and Lake Rowallan in the North West, and near Tribute Power Station on the West Coast – which were selected from the original list of 14 potential pumped hydro options around the State.
There is 1700 MW of potential capacity in total for these three sites, and the storage duration ranges from many hours to well over one full day.
The outcome of the more detailed studies will be a preferred project that could be taken forward and be ready to operate when 1200MW of additional Bass Strait interconnection comes online.
Construction of a new upper storage that connects via an underground tunnel to Lake Cethana, which would be the lower storage. An underground power station between the two storages, connected by underground water conveyances (tunnels).
Construction of a new upper storage that connects via an underground tunnel to Lake Rowallan, which would be the lower storage.
An underground power station between the two storages, connected by underground water conveyances (tunnels).
Connecting existing storages – Lake Plimsoll as the upper storage and Lake Murchison as the lower storage.
A new underground power station and new underground water conveyances (tunnels), constructed adjacent to the existing underground power station.
The illustration at left shows how existing lakes can be connected.
The three selected sites stacked up as the most promising when we assessed them against a range of technical, environmental, financial and social criteria as part of the studies carried out over the last 20 months to assess Tasmania’s pumped hydro potential.
These sites represent strong and sustainable development opportunities. There’s 1700 megawatts of potential capacity in total across these three options and the storage duration ranges from many hours to well over a full day.
This puts Hydro Tasmania in a great position to select one strong development opportunity that can be ready for more interconnection.
The next stage involves a more intensive feasibility study to gather more detailed information and assess the suitability of each of the sites for development. This stage will involve engagement with local communities.
The outcome of this work will be a preferred project that could be taken forward and be ready to operate when 1200MW of additional Bass Strait interconnection comes online.
We’ll be getting out to the communities in these areas again, to let them know more about the process, how they can be kept informed and consulted, and what to expect in coming months.
Pre-feasibility work will continue on these sites as the three selected sites progress to feasibility stage.
We expect to finalise pre-feasibility studies later in 2019 and will take into account the work that will be done on the three most promising sites.
The outcome from the remaining 11 pre-feasibility studies is a pipeline of potential future pumped hydro projects that can deliver 2500MW of capacity and be developed in stages as the electricity market transitions.