Hydro Tasmania seeks govt support for 600-MW wind scheme - report

Dec 4, 2013 - Hydro Tasmania has requested financial support from the Australian government to fund its 600-MW wind project on King Island, worth AUD 2 billion (USD 1.8bn/EUR 1.3bn), The Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) said Tuesday.

The media cited energy minister Bryan Green as saying that he would discuss the matter at a meeting with federal minister next week. He pointed out that the state-owned hydro and wind power company would experience financial difficulties if Australia implements its plan to remove the carbon tax and the financial aid will be a way to offset the firm’s losses.

Hydro Tasmania has proposed to install about 200 turbines on the Bass Strait island and construct an underwater cable from King Island to the state of Victoria. The wind power facility is expected to have an annual output of some 2,400 GWh.

Currently, the project is being challenged in the Federal Court by the No TasWind Farm group on the grounds that the wind farm did not get the needed support from locals. Early this summer Hydro Tasmania said that it would proceed to the feasibility study stage if the project was backed by 60% of King Island's adult residents. Later, in a survey launched among local residents and landowners, TasWind secured the support of nearly 59% which the developer said was enough for the feasibility assessment to go ahead.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.906/EUR 0.667)

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