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Category: Alternative Energy / Electricity Energy and Utilities / States and Territories

Hydro Tasmania dam levels fall below 15pc capacity for first time

Monday, 14 Mar 2016 17:28:08

The Tasmanian Government believes the dams can be run as low as 6.5 per cent. (ABC News: Kieran Jones)

Hydro Tasmania says the state's dam levels have continued their record downward trend, as storages dip below 15 per cent for the first time.

Key points:

  • Hydro dams fell 0.7 per cent to 14.8 overall
  • Diesel generators expected to provide additional 200MW by April
  • Experts say there are risks to running dams so low

In a weekly energy update provided to the Government, Hydro recorded a drop of 0.7 per cent over the last week, putting dam storage levels at 14.8 per cent.

The news follows the cutting of the Basslink cable on Friday as it awaits further repairs.

Energy analyst Marc White said the drop was disappointing, especially given there were no material inflows.

"Here in Hobart we've seen a little bit of rain," he said.

"We were hoping some of that might have made its way into the dams but clearly not."

The Government said the first instalment of 100MW of diesel generators was continuing to come online and the state was on track to have an additional 200MW by the end of April.

Mr White said the generators' contribution would be essential for the state's power storages.

"Diesel generations would help us through until end of May," he said.

"What we don't know, of course, is how the rainfalls are going to impact on that situation.

"Now that Basslink have cut the cable we really need some feedback on what they've found and that will determine what the worst case outcome might look like."

While he said he believed the state was still some way off power rationing, he admitted running dams at record low levels created risks.

The Government had previously stated storages could be run as low as 6.5 percent.

AustraliaPlus


 

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