| Renewables integration
Right: Alqueva Dam in Portugal. The country is planning is to install solar parks with a capacity of up to 100MW on the waters of the dam
FLASH is described as being able to unlock new opportunities for hydropower flexibility, lowering costs and increasing the amount of wind and solar power that can be integrated into the grid. It can provide situational awareness, helping users understand how natural events affect how a hydroelectric plant operates. For example, rainstorms change how much water – and thus power – can (and sometimes must) be released from a dam to manage flooding concerns. At the same time, errors in wind, solar, hydrologic, and load forecasts can shift how much hydropower is needed across a given period. FLASH uses this information to provide stakeholders with insight on how to maximise hydropower operations while fully respecting safety, water rights, and environmental commitments. It accomplishes this by exchanging information between the river basin and power system models at daily, weekly, and seasonal intervals. Accounting for such uncertainties and constraints is
expected to give hydropower operators an exceptional level of insight into the overall system. Indeed, NREL says it has only begun to imagine what’s possible for hydropower and its role on a clean, reliable power grid.
Strong backing for Marinus Link Hydro Tasmania has welcomed the release of the
draft 2022 Integrated System Plan (ISP) which has confirmed the importance of the Marinus Link to unlocking Tasmania’s dispatchable energy capacity and long duration storage opportunities, now identifying it as an “actionable project”. Acting CEO Ian Brooksbank said that the new 1500MW Marinus Link interconnector is a critical enabler of the Battery of the Nation. He welcomed the Australia Energy Market Operator’s recognition of Marinus Link as providing ‘improved access to Tasmania’s dispatchable capacity (including deep storages) and high quality variable renewable energy (VRE) opportunities, helping reduce the scale of investment needed on the mainland.’ “It is very pleasing to see AEMO confirm that
progressing Marinus Link as early as possible is still the correct course of action to optimise benefits for consumers. Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link can support the nation’s transition to a clean energy future. Tasmania can provide cost-effective, dispatchable, highly flexible renewable energy, backed by long duration hydropower storage capacity,” Brooksbank said. “Together these projects will deliver benefits to Tasmania, including locking in our island’s energy security, giving Tasmanians the lowest possible power prices and delivering much needed jobs and economic investment to regional parts of the state.” Brooksbank added that the first 750MW Marinus Link cable will unlock flexibility in Hydro Tasmania’s existing hydropower portfolio to provide firming products to support a transitioning market. It also opens up potential for capacity upgrades in the existing asset fleet including the Tarraleah hydropower scheme. The second cable creates the opportunity to develop the 750MW, 20-hour deep pumped storage opportunity at Lake Cethana. Hydro Tasmania says
that Cethana can provide the cost competitive deep storage that will be required for reliable electricity supplies into the future with greater penetrations of variable renewable energy in the grid. “Cethana is just one of number of potential pumped
hydro opportunities,” said Brooksbank. “Having a portfolio of opportunities places Hydro Tasmania in a great place to respond to the future capacity and storage needs of the NEM.”
Green energy Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is partnering with
Papua New Guinea (PNG), one of the most renewable energy-rich countries in the world, to develop multiple large-scale green energy and green hydrogen projects. FFI’s Papua New Guinea Fortescue Future Industries
Ltd, and the State of Papua New Guinea have signed a Master Development Agreement that will enable FFI to undertake feasibility studies to develop up to seven hydropower projects and 11 geothermal energy projects in the country. These will generate renewable electricity for the production of green hydrogen and green ammonia, creating a significant new domestic energy and export industry for PNG, which currently heavily relies on imported oil. FFI’s Chief Executive Officer Julie Shuttleworth said,
“Our green energy vision for PNG will lead to more jobs, a stronger economy, thriving communities and importantly, lower emissions for Papua New Guinea. We share Prime Minister Marape’s vision that PNG can be at the forefront of developing hydropower and geothermal resources for the emerging global green hydrogen industry.” FFI’s proposed Purari Wabo Hydropower project
and West New Britain Geothermal project have made significant progress with scoping studies and early-stage pre-feasibility works completed. Fortescue Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest believes that the projects will completely transform PNG to become a leader in the world’s renewable energy transition. ●
Below: Tarraleah pumped storage station in Tasmania, Australia. Hydro Tasmania says that having a portfolio of pumped storage opportunities places it in a great position to respond to the future capacity and storage needs of the National Energy Market
References
https://economictimes.indiatimes. com/markets/expert-view/ need-to-double-hydropower- capacity-in-next-decade-to-cut- dependence-on-coal-ak-singh/ articleshow/
87769446.cms
www.reuters.com/markets/ commodities/portugal-hold-first- auction-right-install-floating-solar- panels-2021-11-25/
www.nrel.gov/news/ program/2021/flash-hydropower. html
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