Planned and in Progress Renewable Energy Projects in Tasmania

Although the current electricity generating capacity looks adequate to meet Tasmanian demand over the next 15 years, Basslink and Energy Policy directions will provide opportunities for substantial expansion in the State’s renewable energy sector. As well as providing the capacity to import electricity into Tasmania when interstate prices are lower, Basslink offers the advantages of an export market into the South East Australian Grid.

Through Basslink, Tasmania has the potential to make a substantial contribution to Australia’s target of producing 20 per cent of electricity output from renewable sources by 2020.¹⁹⁴

Tasmania currently has a number of renewable energy projects under evaluation and at various stages of construction. Wind, hydro, bioenergy and geothermal projects at various stages of development have a combined potential capacity of 1775 megawatts, although the geothermal projects, with a potential capacity of 702 megawatts, are far from commercialisation. Details of these projects can be viewed in Table ‎9.8. Construction is underway at the 168 megawatts Mussleroe Wind Farm and for an additional 25 megawatts of capacity at the Tungatinah Power Station.

Table ^‎9.8 2011 Utility / Industrial Scale Renewable Energy Project Pipeline

Project Technology Unit* Status Musselroe

Wind Farm, Hydro Tasmania

Wind 168MW

Construction commenced – foundation preparation underway at wind farm, blinding pour being completed. Vegetation clearing for transmission line easement commenced.

Cattle Hill Wind

Farm, NP Power Wind 300MW

The project has received approval from the EPA and the Central Highlands Council. The Federal government has approved the project in principle, supplementary explanatory information has been provided and a positive reply is expected soon. Construction is due to begin late 2012/early 2013 and due for completion in 2014. Negotiations are underway with a number of interested parties for funding equity and debt.

White Rock wind farm (also known as Robbins Island)

Wind ~ 400MW

EPA assessment guidelines finalised following close of public comment period on the draft. Proponent yet to respond to the assessment guidelines issued in December 2010.

Tungatinah Power Station Upgrade. Hydro Tasmania

Hydro 25MW

Modernisation project addressing risk and performance, aiming to improve capacity and efficiency on three of the five turbines. Power from the upgraded turbines is available at completion of works on each machine which has been phased - one complete, second underway, third due for completion in 2013.

194 DEDTA, 2011d

269

Project Technology Unit* Status Development of

411MWe Secured tenements of 12360km2 over eastern Tasmania. Two inferred resource announcements have been issued

identifying two drilling targets in Lemont and Fingal. Both projects are drill ready, i.e. ready for drill onsite and for drilling into hot reserve to commence. Further progress is heavily dependent on achieving investment.

Current exploration licence of 450km2, Swansea. Desktop investigations underway (basin studies). Commencement of physical exploration is dependent on achieving significant investment.

Current exploration licence of 3028km², Zeehan and Devonport. No works have been undertaken for the last couple of years and no works are planned for the foreseeable future.

* installed capacity in megawatts unless otherwise stated

Updates on the above projects have been obtained from the following sources:

Musselroe - http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/musselroe-wind-farm (accessed 02/2012) Cattle Hill – pers comm NP Power 29/02/2012

White Rock – pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012 Tungatinah – pers comm Hydro Tasmania 7/03/2012

KUTh Energy – pers comm 24/02/2012 and KUTh Energy (2011) Annual report 2011 (KUTh Energy, Sydney) Swann and Jenkins – pers comm 24/02/2012

Gullewa Geothermal – pers comm 1/03/2012

Smaller scale and R&D projects at various levels of progress are presented in Table ‎9.9.

Project technologies include bio-energy from organic waste, wind turbines, solar, biofuels from various feedstocks, ocean R&D, wave R&D, hydro R&D and bio-energy biochar R&D. Of those listed, only one resulting in additional installed electrical capacity is apparently certain of being completed. The King Island Renewable Energy Program is due for completion in 2013, where the installation of two new wind turbines will contribute an additional four megawatts to King Island’s installed capacity. The remaining projects are either R&D focused and will not at this stage contribute additional installed capacity or are projects that are still in the planning stage and/or are under the approval process. The ocean wave and ocean tidal proposed pilot programs are unlikely to progress further without assistance with capital investment or subsidies.

270

Table ^‎9.9 2011 Distributed/Embedded Power Generation, R&D/Demonstration and Smaller Scale Projects

Project Technology Unit* Status

Biodigestor, Longford,

IMP Environmental Bio-energy 4,800m³ EPA and local government planning approvals granted.

Wind turbine, Flinders Island Renewable Energy (FIRE)

Developments Pty Ltd.

Wind 300kW Development application approved by Flinders Island Council.

Hayes Hill wind turbine,

Northern Tasmania Wind 225kW Planning and other approvals being sought Various wind,

<1MW Early investigation and planning stage

Cellulosic ethanol plant,

Negotiating long-term supply contracts for plantation feedstock and discussing fuel extraction technology options with international licensors

Three year $40.9m program due for completion in 2013. The installation of two new wind turbines will provide an additional 4MW installed capacity.

Alternative fuel trials are underway, testing the performance of one of the four diesel generators running on biodiesel with a view to convert all four generators to biodiesel if the economics and performance are satisfactory. Generation from biodiesel could then account for 6MW installed capacity.

Australian Research Council Industry Linkage grant of

$342,000 over 3 years to 2014

All planning is complete, project is held off indefinitely until finance can be secured. Capital investment and subsidies from Government would be required.

271

Project Technology Unit* Status

Potential pilot

Planning and design of pilot project is complete.

Development approvals have been obtained, approval process is complete. Further progress is dependent on funding. If/when funding is achieved BioPower Systems are capable of applying immediate resources to the project.

Investigate the unsteady

Australian Research Council Industry Linkage grant of

$148,000 over three years to 2014

Biochar for Tasmanian

A joint School of Engineering and Agricultural Science Program 2011 to 2014

applicable UTAS/Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research

*installed capacity in megawatts unless otherwise stated

Updates on the above projects have been obtained from the following sources:

IMP Environmental - http://www.impenvironmental.com.au/anaerobic-digester-project/ (accessed 02/2012) Flinders Island Renewable Energy Developments - Harrington P (2012) Flinders Island Sustainability Plan:

Renewable Energy Consultation Paper. (Pitt and Sherry) Hayes Hill - pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012

Various wind, mini-hydro, solar, biodigestor - pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012 REDD Forests – pers comm 27/02/2012

Macquarie Oil - http://www.macquarieoils.com/biodiesel.html

King Island Renewable Energy Integration Program – pers comm Hydro Tasmania 28/02/2012

Oceanlinx and AMC - http://www.oceanlinx.com/news-and-media/oceanlinx-and-amc-awarded-australian-research-council-grant/ (accessed 02/2012)

BioPower Systems – pers comm 02/03/2012

School of Engineering - pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012 Biochar for Plantations - pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012 Biochar for Orchards - pers comm DEDTA 29/02/2012