💧 A Renewable Energy Powerhouse Rises
In a bold move toward energy leadership, Hydro Tasmania has confirmed new interstate energy export agreements with Victoria and South Australia, capitalising on a record surplus of clean, renewable electricity. Tasmania—already running on 100% renewable energy since 2020—is now exporting its excess to help power mainland Australia, solidifying its role as the country’s unofficial green energy capital.
This shift comes as mainland states grapple with coal phase-outs, battery shortages, and ambitious net-zero targets. Tasmania, meanwhile, enjoys a stable grid fuelled by hydropower, wind farms, and increasingly—solar.
🔌 What’s Driving the Surplus?
Tasmania’s energy strength lies in its geography and forward-thinking infrastructure:
· Over 30 large hydroelectric stations provide reliable base-load power
· Expanding wind farms—like Musselroe and Granville Harbour—are generating surplus capacity
· Minimal reliance on fossil fuels allows surplus production even during low demand periods
Recent rainfall and ideal wind conditions have led to excess output, prompting Hydro Tasmania to ramp up exports via the Basslink interconnector—with plans for the Marinus Link, a second cable to mainland Australia, well underway.
🤝 New Deals, New Era
The latest export agreements:
Deliver clean energy to Victoria and South Australia
· Stabilise energy supply across the national grid
· Generate new revenue streams for Tasmania’s economy
These deals position Tasmania as a net exporter of green energy, while also reducing carbon dependency in states transitioning away from coal and gas-fired power stations.
Alt text: Hydro Tasmania turbines and transmission lines with digital overlay showing energy flow to mainland Australia
🌱 Beyond Exports: A Blueprint for Low-Carbon Living
Tasmania’s energy success is not just technical—it’s transformational. The clean power surplus has broader implications:
· Lower wholesale electricity prices, especially during peak generation
· Encouragement of electrified transport and EV adoption
· Attraction of green manufacturing industries seeking low-emission operations
· Increased interest in sustainable residential developments powered entirely by renewables
· Communities are already exploring solar-hydro battery hybrids, microgrids, and all-electric precincts—signalling a future where energy independence and sustainability go hand in hand.
🚀 What’s Next? The Marinus Link and National Impact
Scheduled for early works in 2025, the Marinus Link will be a 1,500 MW undersea cable, more than doubling Tasmania’s export capacity to mainland Australia. Once complete, it will:
· Connect directly to Victoria’s Latrobe Valley
· Help balance energy loads across the NEM (National Electricity Market)
· Enable broader adoption of renewables nationwide
This positions Tasmania not only as a provider of clean energy, but as a stabiliser for Australia’s evolving electricity grid.
💡 Final Thought
Tasmania’s renewable energy surge isn’t just a local win—it’s a national turning point. As the state turns its clean energy surplus into economic and environmental capital, it’s proving that sustainability isn’t just possible—it’s profitable, powerful, and already underway.
