Space for more wind farms in Tasmania before infrastructure investment is needed

TASMANIA has the capacity to support two or three more wind farms before it needs to invest in its electricity transmission infrastructure, energy analysts say.

The Musselroe Wind Farm in Tasmania's far North-East. Picture: Hydro Tasmania

TASMANIA has the capacity to support two or three more wind farms before it needs to invest in its electricity transmission infrastructure, energy analysts say.

It is 15 years since Tasmania’s first wind farm was commissioned at Woolnorth in the state’s North-West and four years since its “twin” on the northeastern tip of Tasmania started feeding power into the grid.

Wind power is firmly back on the agenda in Tasmania with the Federal Government championing the state as the nation’s future renewable energy “battery”.

This week the State Government announced the construction of a $300 million, 49-turbine wind farm at Wild Cattle Hill, in the Central Highlands, would begin by September.

MORE: WIND FARM TO BOOST STATE’S GREEN POWER

Energy Minister Matthew Groom also revealed an announcement was due soon on a farm of a similar size at Granville Harbour on the West Coast.

Energy analyst Marc White from Goanna Energy said the state had the capacity for two or three more wind farms — on top of the Central Highlands project — before investment would be needed to keep the system stable.

“Our evaluation is that we can generate between 300-600 more megawatts of wind power before significant investment in the system is needed,” Mr White said.

“After that batteries or other infrastructure would be needed.

“As coal is removed from the [national] system, wind and gas will take its place and Tasmania is in a prime spot to capitalise on that.”

TasNetworks chief executive Lance Balcombe has said more power generation would lead to an upgrade of Tasmania’s transmission system.

It was announced in April that projects worth $3 billion were on the drawing board for Tasmania as the Federal Government pushes for the state to be the nation’s renewable energy powerhouse.

“The sooner we pinpoint those opportunities the better,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It will need to involve new infrastructure including power stations and a second Basslink interconnector.”