The Future for Renewable Energy – Opportunities for Tasmania
Tasmania’s renewable energy projects, current and under consideration have inherent importance for energy security, but they also provide a critical opportunity to drive economic growth, regional development and employment.
The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of Tasmania’s potential energy future and examine the benefits for regional Tasmania. Tasmania’s renewable energy projects – current and under consideration – have inherent importance for energy security, but they also provide a critical opportunity to drive economic growth, regional development and employment.
The concept for this document originated last year, when the world was a far different place. In Australia, devastating bushfires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic have changed our communities and our livelihoods for the foreseeable future.
Tasmania led Australian performance on economic indicators in the CommSec State of the States report in March 2020 Its economy has experienced rapid change. Many high-performing economic sectors, such as tourism and hospitality, have endured the brunt of the COVID induced downturn while the traditional industry sectors, including primary production, forestry, mining and manufacturing, have softened the economic blow through continued trading.
The good news is Tasmania can lead Australia again, but it will require investment, self-belief and confidence. While most industry sectors will recover as global markets reopen and trading resumes, other sectors depend on a demonstration from government of a pathway forward.
The Tasmanian renewable energy industry is ready to leverage long-term opportunities and deliver tangible benefits for the Tasmanian economy and regional communities. Feasibility studies and business case assessments have concluded that the Marinus Link, Battery of the Nation and hydrogen are all interrelated projects of significance that will provide post COVID-19 stimulus to employment and investment and reinvigorate Tasmania’s economy.
Using its competitive advantage to generate renewable energy, in a sustainable manner for the long term, Tasmania has an opportunity to chart a path to recovery in a post COVID-19 world.
Key Recommendations
- Australian and Tasmanian governments to fund Project Marinus as a priority project for Tasmania.
- Australian and Tasmanian governments to support Battery of the Nation planning and investment activities to enable the introduction of pumped hydro in Tasmania.
- Tasmanian government and industry to continue investing in hydrogen technologies to ensure long-term local production capacity.
- Industry to leverage skills training in line with employment opportunities for regional Tasmanian communities.
- All levels of government and renewable energy sector to encourage positive community engagement in anticipation of any new renewable energy project development as a means of fostering collaboration, support and ownership of any outcomes.
To download a copy of this report click here DOWNLOAD REPORT.
SOLVE: 10 Questions for Marinus.
August 31, 2020 at 12:23
This is the same PR we’ve heard from corporate-led politicians for over a year.
Huge claims + guff about renewables + vague promises of jobs and growth = a lie.
There’s no ‘research’ in this document, no mention of climate change, and no evidence-based state Jobs, energy or climate policies. Regional people get nothing but phony community ‘consultation’, no real planning – just PR, like this fluff from UPC-RDA. The only plan is to turn Tasmania into an exporter of power from private companies to the mainland via Marinus.
Regional Tasmania is being shafted. Solve Tasmania