Hydro Tasmania has announced that it will run the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) at the Tamar Valley Power Station.
The decision has been made for commercial reasons, and is not related to energy security. Hydro Tasmania storages are above 41 per cent, which is very secure for this time of year (the highest level in four years for this time of year).
Mainland electricity prices are currently high. The CCGT will be operated to help reduce the amount of electricity Hydro Tasmania needs to import from Victoria over the drier months, therefore reducing overall cost.
The CCGT is expected to run as long as it’s commercially favourable to do so.
There’s been heightened media interest in the operations of the CCGT and Tamar Valley Power Station following the 2015/16 energy supply challenge, and while the Tasmanian Energy Security Taskforce was deliberating.
Its operation can be monitored online, in the context of Tasmania’s overall generation.
