Tasmania’s potential as a renewable energy Battery of the Nation will be a major focus of the first-ever Tasmanian Energy Development Conference in Devonport this week, with Hydro Tasmania and TasNetworks outlining their bold vision to help secure our state’s energy future.

As the uptake of renewables continues to surge, the conference will give all stakeholders an opportunity to come together to learn about the long-term opportunities in Tasmania and particularly in the state’s North West. This includes a range of renewable energy developers that are active in the Battery of the Nation initiative, along with government, local business and industry.

Battery of the Nation is about locking in our island’s energy security and giving Tasmanians the lowest possible power prices, while also supporting the needs of mainland Australia as coal is phased out.

Hydro Tasmania will outline the state’s huge hydropower potential and opportunities for new pumped hydro development, while TasNetworks will provide more detail about the proposed Marinus Link and the case for further Bass Strait interconnection as part of Australia’s future electricity grid.

Hydro Tasmania CEO, Steve Davy, said Tasmania is a key part of the solution to the nation’s energy challenges and progress is being made, but we need to work together to achieve this.

“Battery of the Nation is part of the solution needed to support a national energy market in transition, and will deliver multiple benefits to the state – giving Tasmanians the lowest possible power prices, creating much-needed jobs in regional areas and bringing broad economic benefit to Tasmania.

“Tasmania has a proud legacy of pioneering renewable energy development and we have the expertise to make this happen.

“We now need to work together and push forward to turn this bold vision into an actionable plan.”

The conference is being held at Devonport’s Paranaple Convention Centre on 19 – 20 June.

Further information on the Battery of the Nation can be found at www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/battery-of-the-nation

Released for Hydro Tasmania by Bronwyn Hill / 0409 722359 / media@hydro.com.au.