Tasmania’s hydro storages are at their highest July level in more than a decade, despite the state coming off two of its driest years on record.
Hydro Tasmania says total energy in storage across its dams is sitting at 42%, the highest level recorded at the start of July since 2012.
That is above the 22% the state needs at this time of year to remain energy secure under the framework Hydro Tasmania operates within.
The business expects storages to rise further through the wetter spring months.
Hydro Tasmania chief executive Rachel Watson said the result reflected careful water management across one of Australia’s most complex water and energy systems.
“Achieving this has required very careful management of Tasmania’s water resources, balancing the needs of electricity generation with the many other important ways water is used across the state,” Watson said.
“Our storages are a strategic asset for Tasmania, especially as the value of long-duration storages and flexible energy capacity continues to rise.”
Watson said operators had to balance water for power generation with irrigation, recreation, drinking supplies and environmental flows.
She said Hydro Tasmania also had to consider its role in the National Electricity Market.
“The National Electricity Market is highly dynamic and with conditions changing every five minutes, we need to constantly assess how to best use our water resources,” she said.
