From Bess Clark, General Manager Project Marinus – TasNetworks
TasNetworks is very pleased to support the CIGRE Substations 2019 conference held at the iconic Wrest Point Casino in Hobart on November 7-8. CIGRE and its members around Australia, New Zealand, and the world, undertake important work in considering the technical and economic aspects of the end to end power system.
The conference gathers together experts in the industry to discuss solutions to address some of the challenges facing the rapidly transforming power system including the influx of variable renewable generation.
Bess Clark, General Manager of Project Marinus at TasNetworks, opened the conference, and spoke about the important relationship TasNetworks has with CIGRE.
Ms Clark demonstrated the evolution of the power system in Tasmania over the decades by looking at the Emu Bay Substation in Burnie, featured in a Advocate News clipping from 1939.
The substation was originally built to service the pulp industry and now serves the Burnie CBD.
Today in front of the art-deco substation building are the huge turbine blades and tower components destined for the Granville Harbour wind farm, a symbol of the energy transformation underway.
Burnie is also the proposed Tasmanian landing site for the 1500 megawatt Marinus Link undersea interconnector. The opening for the Cradle Coast Future Energy Hub last week in Burnie, by the Minister for Energy, supported by TasNetworks, Hydro Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority, celebrated the opportunity for the region to build on Tasmania’s strong renewable energy track record.
Speaking to the CIGRE attendees Ms Clark noted, “As the world transforms, we need to consider how we use our collective knowledge, experience, innovation and passion for great outcomes, to drive a future where customers continue to receive safe, reliable and secure electricity at an affordable price”.
“When I think of the challenges we face, I’m always reassured by the skill, competence and ingenuity of the engineering fraternity to devise clever ways to improve things, manage things in new ways, and continue to drive innovation.
“The CIGRE Substations 2019 conference is one more way to share our knowledge, build and consolidate relationships, and help us to create a fantastic future for our customers and for generations to come,” Ms Clark said.
Steve Davy, Hydro Tasmania CEO, also welcomed guests and spoke about the Battery of the Nation initiative.
Mr Davy outlined plans to further develop Tasmania’s extensive hydro power system, to provide dispatchable pumped hydro ‘deep’ storage to meet Australia’s growing need for clean, dispatchable energy.
The key note speaker was Tasmanian Minister for Energy, the Hon. Guy Barnett M.P. who gave a rousing speech demonstrating Tasmania’s potential as a renewable energy powerhouse, with world class wind and hydro resources making it the Battery of the Nation, unlocked by the proposed 1500 MW Marinus Link interconnector.
Minister Barnett highlighted that Tasmania has what the rest of Australia needs: clean, dispatchable, affordable energy.
TasNetworks looks forward to hearing from the speakers and taking part in the discussions as the conference progresses over the coming days.
Media contact – Dan Sinkovits 0417 767 124
