Monday 22nd October 2018

“Thinking Big” takes us to the Pilbara where CWP is planning to export gigawatts of wind and solar energy by undersea cable to Jakarta. Vivien Langford talks to

Andrew Dickson

Andrew Dickson about getting the social licence for this break through project to export renewable energy to Asia. What is the environmental impact and who will underwrite the finances for such a mega project?

Giles Parkinson

We talk to Giles Parkinson editor of REneweconomy who has been following this project, with enthusiasm.  He also outlines how pumped hydro energy storage can solve the headaches of “FIRMING”.  As some leaders create anxiety around the transition from coal and gas,  listeners do not panic when the sun doesn’t shine etc, there are many minds converging round these problems and we want to keep you up to date.

How could Tasmania become the Battery of the Nation?
At the AFR Energy summit Vivien heard a lot about gas as the way to achieve firming intermittent wind and solar power. But it is still a fossil fuel.

Steve Davey

Benjamin White

Then she met Steve Davey from TasHydro and Ben White (Head of stakeholder relations,  Community,  Environment and Planning for The Marinus Project at TasNetworks) from the Marinus Project. They are thinking big.  They tell us all about how as Victoria’s coal fired power retires gracefully, the energy stored by pumped hydro in Tasmania can be brought by the undersea Marinus cable to the eastern states.
Is this project in competition with Snowy 2.0 or do we need both sources to firm up the energy supply?  Is pumped hydro better than gas for firming?

Producer :Kurt Johnson,  Podcasts:  Roger Vize and Interviews:  Vivien Langford