The objective of the study was to identify and assess options for the redevelopment and future-proofing of the Tarraleah hydropower scheme in the highlands of Tasmania, in the context of likely future market changes.
Report extract
Hydro Tasmania has initiated the Battery of the Nation (BotN) strategic initiative to investigate and map out future development opportunities for the State of Tasmania to make a bigger contribution to a future National Electricity Market (NEM). The Tarraleah scheme redevelopment pre-feasibility study was undertaken through this initiative, with funding support from ARENA under the Advancing Renewables Program. The outcomes of this study will support wider consideration of asset management strategies for existing hydropower generation infrastructure to support a more flexible and low emissions energy future.
Critical to the consideration of potential redevelopment options was the role the scheme might play in the future energy market, not just consideration of present or past market dynamics (which would drive a very different project outcome). Hydro Tasmania is currently modelling future possible market models and these future market dynamics underpinned the identification of potential options.
The pre-feasibility study started with an innovation phase, bringing together expertise from across the business. Six possible redevelopment options were identified. These options were then further refined and collaboratively assessed to shortlist three options to complete the pre-feasibility assessment. These three options are summarised as follows:
- Business as usual (i.e. maintaining the existing scheme and the current asset management strategy).
- Energy optimised redevelopment.
- Capacity optimised redevelopment.