Cradle Coast Future Energy Hub in Burnie, Tasmania | Community organisation

Cradle Coast Future Energy Hub

Locality: Burnie, Tasmania

Phone: +61 3 6433 8400

Address: 1-3 Spring St 7320 Burnie, TAS, Australia

Website: https://www.cradlecoast.com/energy-hub

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25.01.2022 Project Marinus has released its Supplementary Analysis Report to the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR). The Report: - recaps on cost benefits analysis undertaken to date. - summarises the stakeholder feedback received on the PADR. ... - discusses the 2020 ISP and its implications for Marinus Link. - highlights the market and regulatory developments since the PADR was published in December 2019. - explains additional cost-benefit modelling undertaken in light of the 2020 ISP, recent developments and stakeholder feedback. - reports modelling results and the preferred option. - explains Marinus Link’s role in the NEM and the value it is able to unlock. - outlines the other project considerations relating to Marinus Link. - sets out the next steps and timelines for completing the RIT-T As renewable penetration across the national grid continues to accelerate and massive coal retirements loom, developing Marinus Link to support the transition and long term grid stability becomes increasingly urgent. The long lead in times involved in such a large project mean any delays now will lead to costly delays later. Project Marinus welcomes submissions from stakeholders on this report by 7 December. The Supplementary Report can be found here: https://www.marinuslink.com.au//Marinus-Link-Supplementary Image: RIT-T Supplementary Analysis Report

25.01.2022 A fourth green hydrogen project has been confirmed as a successful applicant under the Tasmanian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding program. Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) is undertaking a feasibility study into a 250MW green hydrogen plant at the Bell Bay Industrial Precinct with green ammonia production capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year for domestic and international export. It has the capacity to be one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants..., powered entirely by Tasmanian renewable energy. The project is targeted for an investment decision by FMG in 2021. This announcement is on top of the three successful feasibility studies announced last week under the program: - Grange Resources - 90-100 MW at Port Latta - Origin Energy - 500 MW green at Bell Bay - ABEL Energy - 100 MW at Bell Bay A fifth proposal, a 10MW pilot plant producing 4.5 tonnes per day of green hydrogen for the transportation sector, has been short listed by the national Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round. The project is a partnership between Woodside Petroleum and Countrywide Renewable Energy. So how much additional renewable energy will Tasmania need to produce if these plants are built? If the FMG plant is eventually built, Tasmania will need to increase its renewable energy production by over 15%. For the Origin plant, the state will need to increase production by over 25%. For both, that will need more than a 40% increase in Tasmania's renewable energy generation! You can find out more about the FMG study here:

25.01.2022 Works have recently been completed on the Murchison Dam wave wall upgrade, and Mount Murchison Dam Road has reopened for public access to Lakes Murchison and Mackintosh. The Murchison Dam, near Tullah, was constructed between 1978 and 1982 and forms Lake Murchison. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, previously rare, very large rainfall events are occurring more frequently, prompting the decision to increase the size of the spillway in response to long-term predictions. ...The steep-sided nature of the Murchison Dam can result in rapid water-level rise during periods of intense rainfall. A larger spillway will allow the dam to safely weather the largest, most severe rainstorm event. The upgrade to the dam involved constructing a three-meter concrete wall on the crest of the dam and raising the inside wall of the spillway by up to five meters. Lake Murchison is part of the Pieman River development. Upstream, water is diverted from various rivers to be used by the underground Tribute Power Station. Water flows to Lake Plimsoll and on to Lake Murchison to be used in the Pieman run-of-river power stations (Mackintosh, Bastyan and Reece). Lake Murchison is a diversion storage that discharges water into Lake Mackintosh via the Sophia tunnel. When the tunnel is releasing the fishing is said to be excellent, but take note of the Warning signs. Image: https://www.facebook.com/HydroTasmania

25.01.2022 What is the best way to keep up to date with news on the proposed north west transmission developments? Project Marinus have recently commenced community and stakeholder engagement for the next stages of the proposed North West Transmission Developments, from Palmerston to Heybridge. Ecology and cultural heritage surveys will take place on existing easements over summer, with further surveys scheduled to occur in spring next year. Applications for the project are expected to ...be lodged in 2022. To keep up with the latest news, head to https://talkwith.tasnetworks.com.au/palmerston-heybridge and enter your email to subscribe (near the lower right hand side of the page). That's where you can also find information about upcoming drop-in sessions and other opportunities to learn more about the project. Image : Project Marinus

22.01.2022 The National Electricity Market (NEM) is changing from "peak" and "off-peak" periods being determined by electricity demand, to when electricity is generated. As more massive coal fired power station are retired in the coming years, a system that was developed with base loads (mostly coal) and peak loads (mostly gas) responding to network demand, will become dominated by use-it-or-lose-it variable renewable energy (solar and wind) and storage (pumped hydro and batteries). Whi...le high noon in Byron Bay occurs at a different time to high noon in Adelaide, which somewhat spreads solar generation across the network, there are many hours each day when the entire NEM is in darkness. South Australia, where almost a third of houses already have solar panels, generates so much solar energy in a short period each day that requirements for new rooftop solar, including the ability for them to be switched off remotely, were recently introduced. The transitioning grid is driving exciting advances in technology that will not only change how, where and when electricity is used, but will also ensure "excess" electricity generation is transmitted or stored. Each coal fired power station retirement will remove a huge amount of generation capacity from the network. Just the next coal fired power station due to be retired (Liddell in NSW, in 2023 - 2024) annually generates more than ten times that of all of South Australia's rooftop solar. With many coal and gas retirements to follow in coming years, it will become increasingly critical that variable renewable generation is used, transmitted or stored, and not switched off. You can find out more about Australia's electricity roadmap here: https://aemo.com.au//2020/final-2020-integrated-system-pla Image: Scheduled power station retirements, AEMO ISP 2020

19.01.2022 The Future Energy Hub and Cradle Coast Authority made a submission earlier this year in response to Tasmania's draft Renewable Energy Action Plan. Some main points from the submission included: - Engaging with our Member Councils in a timely manner, to ensure they are well placed to derive maximum financial and other benefits from renewable energy proponents, on behalf of their communities. - Developing a strategic approach to prioritise unlocking Renewable Energy Zones and u...pgrading transmission capacity. This will allow communities and Councils to plan ahead for upcoming developments. - Consideration should be given to developing government owned renewable generation projects, including the opportunity for community investment in publicly owned renewable generation and interconnection through bonds and similar mechanisms. - Although hydrogen may become an option for light and heavy vehicles in the future, electric light vehicles are already an established and increasingly affordable technology. Targets, timeframes, and incentives should be identified for the annual purchasing of public and privately owned electric vehicles, and the installation of supporting infrastructure. Tasmania has the immediate opportunity to significantly replace fossil fuel imports by transitioning to electric vehicles, and implementation of an ambitious strategy should be considered as achievable in the short-term. You can read the entire submission, as well as other submissions here: https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au//energy/renewable_energy Image: Tasmania's Renewable Energy Zones, AEMO ISP 2020

19.01.2022 Granville Harbour Wind Farm on the West Coast of Tasmania has released this time lapse video of the project's construction. There is some amazing imagery of the complex and challenging tasks involved in building major renewable energy generation. You can find out more about the project here: https://granvilleharbourwindfarm.com.au/

18.01.2022 Legislation to support Tasmania's world leading 200% Renewable Energy Target is currently before parliament. This will legislate that 15,750 GWh/ year of electricity is generated by renewable sources by 2030, and 21,000 GWh/ year by 2040. Tasmania currently generates close to 10,500 GWh/ year. 10,500GWh of energy is the equivalent of 1.6 million tonnes of black coal. As more coal and gas fired power stations retire over coming years, and industries such as transport and manuf...acturing transition from petroleum energy sources to electricity and hydrogen, Tasmania's expanding renewable generation will become increasingly critical for the National Electricity Market. You can find out more about how Australia's energy sector is changing, and the role Tasmania will play in the Australian Energy Market Operator's Integrated System Plan: https://aemo.com.au//integ/2020-integrated-system-plan-isp

17.01.2022 MASSIVE BREAKING NEWS - Tasmania's world leading 200% renewable energy target has today passed both Houses of Parliament. This sets the course for enormous opportunities in Tasmania's renewable energy sector. Under the legislation, by December 2030, 15,750 GWh of electricity generated in a calendar year by NEM connected equipment is to be generated by utilising renewable energy sources or by converting renewable energy sources into electricity. By 2040, 21,000 GWh a year is t...o be generated by utilising renewable energy sources. This legislation builds on Tasmania's current renewable energy target of 100% by 2022, which the state is well on track to reach. You can read the bill here: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/bills/pdf/43_of_2020.pdf

16.01.2022 Last year, with the completion of two new wind farms, Tasmania achieved the capability of producing 100% of its current electricity needs with renewable generation. However, as Tasmania and much of the world continues to transition from fossil fuels to renewables, electricity consumption is expected to surge. Energy usage will become electrified or replaced with renewable energy sources - for example, natural gas used in manufacturing will be replaced with green hydrogen, wh...ich takes a massive amount of renewable electricity to produce. With Tasmania's extensive zero-emission electricity generation, it is easy to forget that the state still produces a lot of emissions in other ways. For example, in Tasmania: - manufacturing industries and construction produces 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per year (Mt CO2-e) - transport produces 1.8 Mt CO2-e - industrial processes produce 1.8 Mt CO2-e - agriculture produces 2.4 Mt CO2-e We will see significant reductions in emissions from these activities over coming years as improving technology allows more fossil fuels to be replaced by renewable energy - but that will mean a considerable increase in renewable energy demand. And, as the state continues to promote itself as a destination for industries looking to use our 100% renewable electricity, such as green hydrogen producers, the demand for renewable generation within Tasmania will continue to accelerate. Submissions to Tasmania's Climate Change Act review close on 29 April 2021. You can find out more here: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au//review_of_the_climate_change_a

16.01.2022 Head to the drop-in session in Smithton this afternoon to find out more about: - Jim's Plain Renewable Energy Park - Robbins Island Renewable Energy Park - Transmission to connect the Renewable Energy Parks to the Tasmanian transmission network... There is no need to book, drop in any time between 4 and 7pm. Agritas Trade College 12 Nelson Street, Smithton You can find out more about the projects here: https://robbinsislandwindfarm.com/projects/

15.01.2022 Heading to Agfest? You can find Project Marinus at site M45, Hydro Tasmania at site 230, the University of Tasmania at site S65, Farmers for Climate Action at site 923 and the AEVA Australian Electric Vehicle Association Tasmania at site 923. Image: https://www.agfest.com.au/

11.01.2022 Planning for two massive renewable energy projects in Australia that will export green energy overseas is well underway. The $22 billion Sun Cable project in the Northern Territory includes 10GW of solar plant, 30GWh of battery storage, and a 3750km undersea cable to Singapore. It will be the world’s largest dispatchable solar and battery power station, as well as the world’s largest subsea transmission link. It may be built by the end of 2027. The $27.5 billion Asian Renewab...le Energy Hub in Western Australia will be the world’s largest wind-solar hybrid project. It will generate green hydrogen and ammonia for iron-ore mines and liquefied natural gas facilities in Western Australia, and for export to Asian markets. Construction may commence in 2026 with first exports following two years later. Unlike Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are not connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM), primarily due to the distance between the networks. You can find out more about these exciting projects here: https://asianrehub.com/ https://www.suncable.sg/

09.01.2022 Yesterday's Tasmanian State budget included more support for Tasmania's renewable energy sector, including $3.8 million over four years to support the delivery of Project Marinus, Battery of the Nation, Renewable Hydrogen, the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan and a Renewable Energy Coordination Framework. This announcement backs the recent federal budget announcement of a $250 million package to accelerate nationally critical major transmission projects, including Marin...us Link. $16 million of the $50 million Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding Program is allocated this year. Metro Tasmania have been asked to trial zero emissions buses powered by hydrogen, establishing a consumer for future Tasmanian generated green hydrogen. The government has also committed to 100 per cent of the state-owned vehicle fleet to be electric by 2030, and are expecting significant maintenance and fuel cost savings. The full budget papers are available here: https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/bu/2020-21-tasmanian-budget

07.01.2022 The Draft Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan was released in May this year for public submissions. The Action Plan details the vision and suite of actions to develop renewable energy generation in Tasmania over the coming 20 years, in support of the 200% Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target. 31 public submissions have been published at: https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au//energy/renewable_energy The Government is currently considering the responses received and hopes to release the final version of the TREAP by the end of the year.

06.01.2022 According to the current 20-year road map for Australia's electricity system, the AEMO Integrated System Plan, 10,000 MW of solar and wind generation is already installed or being commissioned, and another 6,000 MW is expected to be operational over the next two years. Depending on how quickly coal-fired power stations retire, Australia will need an additional 31,000 to 50,000 MW of additional variable renewable generation by 2040 to replace the lost coal-fired generation - a...s well as 6,000 to 19,000 MW of dispatchable generation (storage or gas). These are massive numbers, and it is difficult to picture just how much new generation will be required, on top of what is already underway across the country. Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley in NSW, is the next power station due to retire in 2023, and represents 13% of upcoming coal-fired retirements. Using AEMO’s optimal ratio of 43% solar and 57% wind, just this one power station retirement (13% of what will retire over the next 20 years) will require: - 1,777 MW of additional new solar to be built on top of what is already planned (the equivalent of nearly 300,000 houses with 6kW rooftop solar), and - 2,356 MW of additional new wind on top of what is already planned (the equivalent of 654 additional 3.6MW wind turbines), and - at least 800 MW of dispatchables (pumped hydro, large-scale battery energy storage systems, gas, distributed batteries, virtual power plants, etc) Liddell is just one of many massive coal-fired power stations expected to retire over the next 20 years in fact, two thirds of Australia’s coal generation will be retired by 2040. You can find the AEMO Integrated System Plan here: https://aemo.com.au//2020/final-2020-integrated-system-plan

05.01.2022 Project Marinus have commenced landowner and community engagement from Palmerston (near Cressy) to Sheffield, and from Sheffield to Heybridge (near Burnie). As part of their North West Transmission Developments, new infrastructure is needed to increase network capacity and ensure the power system can accommodate future renewable energy and storage developments proposed for the region. The existing transmission infrastructure in these sections was built in 1957. Community drop in-sessions are scheduled at Cressy on the 28th November, Deloraine on the 3rd of December and Sheffield on the 5th of December. You can find out more about these and the proposed developments here:

04.01.2022 Just days after the historic passing of Tasmania's 200% renewable energy target by both houses of parliament, Tasmania has now officially reached 100% renewable generation capacity. Other jurisdictions in Australia have already laid claim to using 100% renewable electricity. The ACT made their announcement in September last year, while Sydney announced they had switched to 100% renewable electricity in July this year. This is despite the ACT and Sydney generating very little ...of their own energy, and in reality still using the NSW power grid, which is mostly generated by coal. The claim of '100% renewable" can be made when the equivalent of the amount of fossil fuel generated electricity used is purchased from distant wind and solar farms. The swelling numbers of regions and businesses (such as Woolworths, Telstra, Ikea and the Commonwealth Bank) pledging to move away from fossil fuel generated electricity, are adding momentum to the national transition to renewable energy. Woolworths alone annually consumes the equivalent of about a quarter of Tasmania's renewable electricity generation. As more large electricity consumers make the commitment to switch to renewable energy, without having the capacity to generate that energy themselves, the demand for additional renewable energy generation, and the transmission to connect it, will keep growing. Image: https://aemo.com.au//integ/2020-integrated-system-plan-isp

02.01.2022 Growing Tasmania's renewable energy sector will require both traditional and modern skills. While Tasmania's Renewable Energy Workforce Development Plan is still under development, national studies like the Climate Council's "Renewable Energy Jobs in Australia" report earlier this year have shown that a range of skills will be required - from admin staff and drivers to tradies and electrical engineers. The renewable energy sector will also be home to some of the most exciting... emerging jobs. Queensland's "Electricity Network Transformation Roadmap: Future Workforce Skilling" report lists a range of roles that will be in demand to adopt emerging technologies and mitigate risks. Some of these include: - Big Data Specialists - SCADA Engineers - Cyber Security Specialists - Network Planners - Software Programmers - Internet of Things (IoT) Engineers Even traditional roles like customer service are transforming into 'online chaperone' roles with responsibilities that range from identity theft and risk management to reputational damage and social media bullying. You can find the "Renewable Energy Employment in Australia" reports here: https://www.uts.edu.au//renewable-energy-employment-austra Queensland's "Electricity Network Transformation Roadmap: Future Workforce Skilling Impacts" report is here: https://www.energynetworks.com.au//future-workforce-skill/

02.01.2022 This week, the Tasmanian Government announced the applications for three feasibility studies investigating large-scale renewable hydrogen projects have been successful in obtaining funding under the first round of the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Development Funding Program. These are: (1) Grange Resources - to explore the potential to use hydrogen to replace natural gas for industrial heating within their pelletising facility located at Port Latta. Grange Resources estima...tes that it will require a 90-100 MW renewable hydrogen production facility. (2) Origin Energy - developing a 500 MW green hydrogen and ammonia plant at Bell Bay with producing 420,000 tonnes of green ammonia per annum, targeting delivery of its first green ammonia shipment in the mid-2020s. (3) ABEL Energy - examine the feasibility of a 100 MW electrolyser plant to produce 44 tonnes of green hydrogen per day at Bell Bay, 38 tonnes of which will be consumed by green methanol production, with 6 tonnes per day available to local consumers. The Tasmanian Government also announced Fortescue Metals Group's potential development of a 250 MW hydrogen and green ammonia production facility at Bell Bay, which is targeted for an investment decision in 2021. The Assessment Panel recommended that more work be done to clarify market opportunities and government support for hydrogen offtake in Tasmania. The Government remains open to engagement with proponents to fund viable hydrogen projects. You can find out more from the State Growth website:

01.01.2022 Back in September, a funded report was released that claimed that batteries were cheaper than Marinus Link. The Advocate newspaper has published a story on that report today. The report compared the cost of building batteries that could provide 1500 MW of power for four hours (then needing to be recharged through some means), with Marinus Link, which is an interconnector that will transmit 1500 MW of power, whenever it is needed, as long as it is needed each day. The report u...nfortunately dismisses Australia's ongoing accelerating transition to renewables over the next few decades as "implausible". Australia's energy network is undergoing a transition from traditional coal and gas to variable renewable generation, at a rate not seen anywhere else in the world. Australia (through the Australian Energy Market Operator's Integrated System Plan) has taken a national approach to strategically developing a long term roadmap - a project more ambitious than has been attempted anywhere else. Achieving maximum net market benefits and delivering low-cost, secure and reliable energy calls for a wide range of generation, storage, transmission and technological solutions. Marinus Link has been identified as a critical project to support Australia's transition to renewable energy. Batteries will of course also be critical, but they won’t be able to do it all. You can find out more about the latest analysis of Marinus Link here: https://www.marinuslink.com.au//Marinus-Link-Supplementary

01.01.2022 Under the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, the Tasmania Government has committed a $50 million package of renewable hydrogen support measures over 10 years through a competitive Expression of Interest (EOI) process, including a $20 million Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Fund, $20 million in concessional loans and $10 million worth of support services including competitive electricity supply arrangements and payroll tax relief. $16 million has been allocated in this yea...r's budget. Earlier this year, the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding Program called for expressions of interest for feasibility studies for projects with a minimum renewable hydrogen production capability production capability of 5-10 MW (or the equivalent level of output for end-use projects), with production capabilities of more than 100 MW considered more favourably. A 100MW renewable hydrogen plant may produce up to 14,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year as either pure hydrogen or embedded within derivatives such as liquid hydrogen, ammonia or methanol. This process would consume 400 megalitres of water and around 650GWh of electricity, or around 6% of the Tasmania's extra renewable energy generation needed to reach the 200% Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target. Most of the world's hydrogen today is used for industrial and commercial purposes, and is mainly produced from natural gas. As further uses for hydrogen are being explored and trialed, much of today's research is focused on developing new technology to reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen down to a comparable cost to hydrogen produced from fossil fuels (which is currently 3 to 6 times cheaper). Image: https://arena.gov.au/renewable-energy/hydrogen/