On Energy Supply …

Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, 22 November 2021

Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project submission

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is progressing with its plan to maximise the opportunity for Bell Bay to be a national renewable hydrogen hub as part of the Australian Government’s expanded $464 million regional program.

The Tasmanian Government will today lodge its official funding submission with the Australian Government to initiate the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay confirming it as one of Australia’s strategically important locations for the development of the emerging green hydrogen industry.

Bell Bay presents as a perfect location for a nation-leading renewable hydrogen hub with its advanced manufacturing zone, renewable energy availability, appropriate infrastructure, water availability and port access.

The newly formed Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania, our government businesses, hydrogen proponents and hydrogen support partners have been working closely on the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project submission and we expect Bell Bay will be a very strong contender.

This is all in line with our Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan which sets the ambitious goal of Tasmania to be a globally significant exporter of renewable hydrogen from 2030.

The funding sought will establish the right environment and infrastructure necessary for operations to start unlocking the potential for large-scale hydrogen export and supporting domestic market activation in Tasmania and on the mainland.

Tasmania can play a key role in Australia’s energy transition, quickly enabling hydrogen production, starting small and scaling up quickly and proving broad industry applications.

There is already significant interest in Bell Bay from some of Australia’s largest potential hydrogen producers including Fortescue Future Industries, Woodside Energy, Origin Energy and ABEL Energy and we’re proud that many of these companies have provided letters of support for our funding submission.

Tasmania has a bold plan to leverage the state’s unique advantages of infrastructure and renewable energy to create a thriving export-scale green hydrogen production facility.

With collaboration between industry, universities, other research institutions and innovators, the Tasmanian Liberal Government is confident Bell Bay will be an exciting investment opportunity.

TCCI support for Marinus Link welcomed

The Tasmanian Liberal Government welcomes the support for Marinus Link outlined today by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Marinus Link interconnector to mainland Australia is strategic national infrastructure that will make Tasmania’s power system even more secure and provide increased access to low cost, reliable and clean energy.

Importantly, Marinus will help stabilise the national electricity grid and also help to decarbonise our emissions, helping all Australians.

Project Marinus will cut at least 70 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2040, the equivalent of taking about 500,000 cars off the road.

The TCCI is the state’s peak business body and understands the economic benefits from this project which could inject up to $7.1 billion into the Tasmanian economy, generate thousands of jobs and create broader renewable energy opportunities.

Project Marinus is currently progressing through the Design and Approval phase with support from the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments and construction is expected to commence following a Final Investment Decision in 2024.

The full 1500 megawatt capacity of Marinus Link is proposed to be delivered via two 750 megawatt cables, laid approximately two kilometres apart across Bass Strait, and located in such a way to provide further system security.

Marinus Link will enable Tasmania to double its clean energy – unlocking renewable energy developments, boosting economic activity and providing the jobs of the future across regional areas in Tasmania and Victoria.

Marinus Link as the second Bass Strait interconnector will complement our plans for hydrogen and provide Tasmania with further energy supply and storage capability. The Marinus project will also include access to additional and improved telecommunications services for all Tasmanians.

Tasmania is already the first jurisdiction in Australia to be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy and we have a bold vision to double our renewable energy production by 2040.

Independent analysis has confirmed Project Marinus is economically viable and will place downward pressure on power prices.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to work with the Australian Government on the cost structure of Project Marinus but we will always fight for Tasmania’s best interests and we should only pay our fair share of what is strategic national infrastructure.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Energy Minister, 22 November 2021

Barnett’s abysmal energy track record cannot continue

Energy Minister Guy Barnett’s abysmal management of the energy portfolio is putting Tasmania’s energy security at risk, with plans to mothball the Tamar Valley Power Station now abundantly clear.

Shadow Energy Minister Dean Winter said Minister Barnett’s attempts to rewrite history regarding his energy failures were all smoke and mirrors.

“It’s all well and good for the Minister to come out today and make announcements around energy, but his track record speaks for itself,” Mr Winter said.

“The government is ignoring its own energy security taskforce by mothballing the Tamar Valley Power Station combined cycle unit, an asset that helped Tasmania get through the Liberals’ 2016 Energy Crisis.

“Extraordinarily, he is simultaneously shutting energy generation assets at Bell Bay, while promoting new hydrogen projects which need significant energy generation.

“And, only weeks after the Minister announced the end to the standstill agreement with the Basslink owner, the company went into administration.”

Mr Winter said there are businesses right across Tasmania, including Bell Bay, that need peace of mind, something that right now, only a fully available Tamar Valley Power Station can provide.

“People need energy security confidence to continue to invest in Tasmania, and under Minister Barnett this isn’t the case.

“It’s simply unbelievable that the Minister has chosen to ignore his own energy security taskforce and decided to mothball this vital energy asset.

“Minister Barnett needs to explain why this decision has been made. He is happy to talk about hydrogen, Marinus and other new projects but fails to mention the fact he is mothballing an existing Tasmanian power generator on December 31.”

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 22 November 2021

Marinus means Tasmanians worse off

Premier Gutwien’s support for big business backing $3.5 billion of taxpayers’ funds being diverted from schools and hospitals to turn unprofitable windfarm projects into profitable projects seems unremarkable, Bob Brown said today. “Especially as big business will donate a fraction of the same to help Premier Gutwein win the next election for it, keeping Tasmania one of the poorest communities in Australia. Nothing usual there.”

“What is remarkable is the blatant spin that Marinus means those worse-off citizens will be better off. This ‘can do’ capitalism, as the Prime Minister calls it, profits the rich, and green-spin advertising houses at the expense of ordinary taxpayers and Tasmania’s natural environment which is valued at zero,” Bob Brown said.