Using the expression ‘it smells a bit fishy’ can be an unwise practice in Tasmania.
In recent times it brings to mind rotten salmon globs on beaches and tonnes of antibiotics drifting into our native fisheries.
However, in its more general use (even in Tasmania) the term questions the authenticity of an action or event.
Take, for example, this unheralded statement: ‘Notification of Proposal Withdrawn’, and the accompanying date ’22/04/2025′.
Why should it evoke the piscatorial platitude?
Just three days ago, the day after the Easter break, and two days before ANZAC Day, the Cethana Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project was quietly withdrawn from the EPBC Act approvals process.
This is big news, and conclusions are easy to jump to. Tasmanian Times has attempted to contact Hydro, who since this post was published have provided a response which we reproduce further down the page. They did not specifically answer one of the three questions put, namely ‘What does this mean for the Battery of the Nation project/concept?’
On the EPBC Act Public Portal, Hydro describes the project in these terms:
As part of the Battery of the Nation (BotN) initiative, Hydro Tasmania is proposing Tasmania’s first Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) facility to support the transitioning National Electricity Market (NEM). The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasts that all coal-fired generation will exit the NEM by 2043 and be replaced predominantly by variable renewable energy (VRE) generation, mainly wind and solar. This creates a need for additional firming capacity, such as storage, to be deployed in the NEM. Storage technologies such as PHES will play an important role in providing the necessary dispatchable generation to balance the energy system and ensure reliable electricity supply.
This pumped hydro scheme has been promoted endlessly by the State Liberal Government (and the sycophantic Labor Party) as integral to the ‘Battery of the Nation’ and ‘Powerhouse of Australia’ concepts, and has formed part of AEMO’s Integrated System Plan for years.
The masses of firming power it is reputed to deliver would keep the lights on in Melbourne, as well as ensuring 24/7 backup for our still-unproductive Bell Bay hydrogen hub.
Shoving the water back up the hill – using surplus, and therefore cheap, wind energy – was part of the rationale for building wind farms and for our energy GBEs entering into Power Purchase Agreements.
Pumped hydro is also used in the circular argument which underpins Project Marinus, another visionary – think profiteers, not prophets – proposal whose cheer squad ignore the expensive lessons learned through the Basslink.
That Marinus Link Pty Ltd had to be bailed out by the Australian and Victorian governments in October 2022 speaks volumes about its questionable viability – and volumes about the Rewiring of the Nation concept and its $20 billion bucket of ideological spending money.
Doubtless, questions will be raised when Parliament sits on May 6. We should expect some serious inquiry from the Greens and assorted independents, plus point-scoring from Labor – who support both the Cethana Pumped Hydro and Marinus projects.
That would be a bit like the Labor ‘opposition’s questions around salmon farming.
Is that why this all smells fishy?
Update: just after 1pm we received the following reply from Hydro Tasmania:
The Cethana PHES Project was referred to the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in May 2023 (EPBC 2023/09482). The Project was determined to be a controlled action.
Since referral submission in 2023, further Project design and constructability work has changed the disturbance footprint.
Hydro Tasmania consulted DCCEEW on the Project design changes since the original referral in December 2024 and DCCEEW recommended withdrawing and submitting a new referral.
Hydro Tasmania withdrew the referral on 22 April 2025 and is currently preparing a new referral, which will be submitted in June 2025.
Hydro Tasmania continues to progress the development of the Cethana PHES.
Greg Pullen is an active member of the Central Highlands No Turbine Action Group (NTAG) and has a keen interest in renewable energy transformation, in particular its benefits for Tasmania. He is a firm believer in the KISS Principle.
