The nation’s reservoirs other than the Snowy Hydro offer largely untapped potential for energy storage and generation, including solar farms, that governments such as in NSW hope to unleash.
The Berejiklian government on Thursday announced plans to partner its main reservoir management agency, WaterNSW, with the Department of Planning and Environment to open the way for energy investments in the state’s water assets.
“We will be engaging the private sector to look at opportunities in pumped hydro, hydro
generation and floating solar, which sees photovoltaic panels floated on lakes and ponds,” Energy Minister Don Harwin said.
Mr Harwin’s comments come as state and territory energy ministers prepare to strut their region’s energy credentials at Friday’s meeting of Council of Australian Governments in Melbourne.
Peter Gutwein, Tasmania’s acting minister for energy, said his state would be promoting its capacity to reach 100 per cent self-sufficiency in renewable energy by 2022
“We have much to offer the National Energy Market in terms of secure, renewable energy,” he said.
Tasmania’s network of dams could rival or exceed Snowy 2.0, the Turnbull government’s multi-billion dollar plan to link two Snowy Hydro dams. Pumped storage involves pumping water to the higher reservoir during periods of low power prices and releasing it through hydro generators during peak demand times.
In NSW’s case, the push to attract investments into its network of 42 dams offers the potential to boost energy security while meeting its water needs, Amy Kean, NSW’s Renewable Energy Advocate, said.
“The NSW government wants to harness the power of water as nature’s battery, so we can switch on clean energy any time – even if it’s not sunny or windy,” Ms Kean said. “As we get more renewables, having more storage of various forms is going to be what is needed.”
Floating solar farms on existing dams had several advantages including the avoidance of competition with agriculture for land. Evaporation losses would also be moderated, Ms Kean said.
Meridian Energy Australia bought three hydro power stations in NSW last month – the Hume, Burrinjuck and Keepit plants – and sees other potential investments in such assets.
“As we get more renewables, having more storage of various forms is going to be what is needed,” Ed McManus, Meridian’s chief executive, said.
Mr Harwin said the government plans to brief industry of the potential opportunities next month.
“Pumped hydro already plays an important part in NSW’s energy system,” he said. “We want to see dynamic private sector proposals that use our water assets to create energy storage – giving
NSW the power when we need it.”