‘Battery of the Nation’ needs a few things to fall in place

afr.com:

Tasmania has the cheapest pumped hydro opportunities in the country, but the final design of policies currently under development will be critical to open up the “Battery of the Nation” to the national market, according to Hydro Tasmania chief executive Ian Brooksbank.

Mr Brooksbank, who has led the country’s biggest renewable power generator for almost two years, singled out the capacity investment scheme, intended to spur investment in dispatchable renewable generation capacity, and the proposed renewable electricity “guarantee of origin” scheme as particularly important.

Hydro Tasmania CEO Ian Brooksbank says pumped hydro is essential to support the energy transition. Oscar Colman

The Battery of the Nation plan involves developing wind and pumped hydro storage at Hydro Tasmania sites, with the renewable power and “firming” capacity delivered to the mainland through a second interconnector cable across the Bass Strait, a project called Marinus Link.

The concept is supported by the Albanese government under its Rewiring The Nation scheme, and by the Tasmanian and Victorian governments, but faces opposition from groups including the Victoria Energy Policy Centre and the Bob Brown Foundation, which says it would be environmentally and economically “disastrous”.

But Mr Brooksbank said Marinus Link, which is heading towards a final investment decision for the first phase late next year, would enable Tasmania to provide back-up power for the Victorian grid as coal power plants close.

“It’s quite important for Tasmania but just as important for the National Electricity Market because of its lack of long-duration firming capacity,” Mr Brooksbank said. The cable would also underpin the viability of Tasmania’s renewable energy