New highland wind farm plans just the start of renewable future

MATTHEW GROOM is excited by huge potential for the state in green energy projects.

Energy Minister Matthew Groom. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE announcement last week of a new $300 million wind farm development at Wild Cattle Hill in the Central Highlands was significant for Tasmania. It cements our reputation as the nation’s renewable energy powerhouse.

The Hodgman Government helped secure this development in partnership with Aurora Energy and international renewable developer, Goldwind.

This project will have a significant impact. It will increase Tasmania’s wind generation by about 50 per cent, create 150 jobs through construction and deliver enough clean energy to power 60,000-plus homes. Construction is due to commence in September.

Tasmanian businesses also stand to benefit. There are manufacturing opportunities as well as in delivering civil works, engineering advice, project management and other technical expertise.

This announcement is a statement of confidence in Tasmania’s potential for renewable development.

There is strong interest for further investment, including well known projects such as the 100MW Granville Harbour Wind Farm proposal on the West Coast.

The State Government is working hard behind the scenes and I am optimistic there will be more exciting announcements soon.

The Wild Cattle Hill announcement comes just weeks after the Prime Minister and the Premier announced plans to consider additional investment in pumped hydro and other upgrades to boost Tasmania’s renewable energy output.

These projects will look at the potential of over 2500MW of added capacity.

Our potential is not just in hydro and wind. We have project opportunities in biomass and solar and can offer ourselves up as a test bed for new emerging technologies such as wave energy.

Last week’s announcement sets us on the path to being one of the first places in the world to deliver more than 100 per cent of our electricity needs from renewable energy.

We should not underestimate the potential for this to have flow on benefits for the value of the Tasmanian brand.

There is an emerging confidence in the potential to monetise Tasmania’s image as a producer of clean energy. This potential exists across the state economy, including in agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, data processing and manufacturing.

There are international firms looking to lock renewable energy into their supply chain. This can help make Tasmania a very attractive investment destination from an international perspective.

We have also seen our potential further reinforced through the release this week of the Finkel Review.

The Finkel Review, which sets out a blueprint for the future of energy in Australia, includes a strong recognition of the role renewables, including Tasmania’s wind and hydro, will play in Australia’s energy future.

We have a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on this momentum for more renewable energy generation. The Government is seizing it.

The Government has a vision for Tasmania to be the renewable energy battery of the nation. We are well placed to achieve this with some of the best renewable resources in the world, as well as the best expertise.

Maximising our renewable potential is predicated on a second interconnector. This is why the Government will continue to argue the case.

Importantly, the Finkel Review recognises the need to take a national perspective in assessing the merits of further interconnection. This will help strengthen Tasmania’s case for a second interconnector.

There is no doubt the national electricity market is going through significant upheaval. We have seen the blackouts in South Australia, power shortages in NSW and the closure of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria.

While this upheaval can present challenges, it can also offer opportunity.

By developing further renewable energy in Tasmania, we will help our own energy security and deliver more clean renewable energy into a national market.

The Government continues to be a strong supporter of further renewable energy development in Tasmania.

Last week’s announcement demonstrates we are about more than just words. We are doing the hard work to deliver, and we recognise there is more hard work to be done.

We will always be a backer of renewable development because it is good for Tasmania. It creates jobs, grows the economy, is good for the environment and supports our clean, natural brand.

Matthew Groom is Tasmania’s Energy Minister.