Australia’s island state Tasmania has achieved the feat of being one of the few places to be completely powered with 100 per cent renewable energy. The state, recently announced that its wind and hydroelectric projects had made them self-sufficient and run on cleaner energy. The state has met its goal to become fully self-sufficient in terms of green energy two years ahead of schedule.
“We have reached 100% thanks to our commitment to realizing Tasmania’s renewable energy potential through our nation-leading energy policies and making Tasmania attractive for industry investment, which in turn is creating jobs across the state, particularly in our regions”, Energy Minister Guy Barnett said in a statement. Tasmania is known for its environment-friendly forward-thinking solutions. In fact, as long ago as 1895, the Duck Reach Power Station opened in the city of Launceston, when it ran entirely on hydropower. In the last two year, all state’s energy needs were met through hydroelectric systems, along with wind energy generation. Now, the state wants to double its generation of renewable energy, with a target of 200 per cent by 2040.
Tasmania is also progressing with its Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link green energy projects to support Australia’s country-wide transition to a green energy future, and investing AUD2.6 million ($1.9 million) in three large-scale renewable hydrogen feasibility studies. Tasmania follows the Australian Capital Territory, home to the city of Canberra, in becoming fully powered by renewables, although the latter only generates 5% of its needs, with the remainder coming from the National Energy Market (NEM).
In the last ten years, Australia’s generation of renewable energy doubled. But even then, fossil fuels accounted for 94 per cent of the country’s resource usage. Oil accounted for 39 per cent, coal for 29 per cent, and natural gas for 26 per cent. The country is also one of the largest exporters of energy in the world. 88 per cent of black coal production in the country was sent to another country in the last two years.
