Will power of strait-talking at Liberals State Conference

The case for a second Basslink cable is strengthening as the Premier talks up the business case.

Premier Will Hodgman speaks at the Liberal State Conference in Devonport. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S Premier has added further weight to the case for a second Bass Strait cable by revealing the proposed Marinus Link could export more energy than first thought and be backed up by increased hydro generation.

Premier Will Hodgman used his address at the Liberal State Council in Devonport to talk up the business case for the $3 billion Marinus Link project backed by the Federal Government.

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“The business case is now even stronger, with our experts’ analysis confirming that we can advance the interconnection with far more capacity than previously anticipated,’’ Mr Hodgman said.

“And also Hydro Tas … analysis has confirmed that we can significantly increase our pumped hydro storage capacity by about 35 per cent.’’

TasNetworks released a statement yesterday saying the Australian Energy Market Operator had identified a 1500MW Marinus Link was “technically feasible” — an increase of 300MW on previous modelling.

Mr Hodgman said the Marinus project was “massive in its scale and will be unprecedented in its impact on our state”.

”It’s estimated to inject around $6.5 billion into our economy and support around 2400 more jobs … and it will allow us to continue to deliver reliable and secure energy and keep power prices down,” he said.

Hydro Tasmania welcomed news that TasNetworks was assessing options for Marinus Link to provide up to 1500MW of new energy export capacity between Tasmania and the rest of the National Electricity Market.

Hydro Tasmania chief executive Steve Davy said his organisation was ready to respond to the needs of the market.

“More interconnection will unlock Tasmania’s full renewable energy potential, providing clean, reliable and affordable energy to support a resilient future energy market,” Mr Davy said.

“We have more than 400MW of latent capacity and ample opportunities — both in optimising our existing asset base and in our highly competitive pumped hydro development options.”

“Work has already begun on a full feasibility assessment of our three top priority pumped hydro opportunities at Lake Cethana and Lake Rowallan in the North-West and near Tribute Power Station on the West Coast.”

He said geotechnical work had started in the Mersey-Forth, with site preparations to allow for the start of geotechnical drilling in October.

The pre-feasibility study also identified another three options that form a future pipeline of potential pumped hydro development: at yingina/Great Lake in central Tasmania, Lake Parangana in the state’s North-West and between lakes Margaret and Burbury on the West Coast.

Opposition spokesman for energy, David O’Byrne, said Labor agreed with the Premier when he acknowledged the importance of renewables, but said Tasmanians were yet to see the Government seizing these opportunities.

“We need to know what Will Hodgman is actually doing to realise the opportunities for Tasmania around renewable energy generation,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“While Hydro and TasNetworks are building the business case, the Government is failing to support them and make this a reality.”

Mr O’Byrne said Labor’s focus remained on pushing to secure opportunities such as green hydrogen for Tasmania.