Giving Young
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Giving young Tas ma say nians their on n the D ania Re raft Tasm n newa Pla ble Energy Action Contents Minister’s comments ............................................................................1 Talking with children and young people ..........................................3 Survey questions ...................................................................................4 Definitions of key terms .....................................................................5 Renewable Energy in Tasmania .........................................................6 Why do we need a Renewable Energy Action Plan? .............. 7 Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target (TRET) ...............................8 Turning Tasmania into a global renewable energy powerhouse (Priority 1) ...................................9 How does pumped hydro energy storage work? .......................13 How is green hydrogen produced? .................................................17 Making energy work for the Tasmanian community (Priority 2) .................................. 23 Growing the economy and providing jobs (Priority 3) ............. 26 Minister’s comments Renewable energy is important. It’s clean, sustainable and can help manage climate change. Tasmania is Australia’s first state when it comes to renewable energy. We have some of the best water and wind resources in the world that are helping us build a renewable energy industry for the future. We are doing so well that we will soon be producing enough renewable energy for all of the houses and businesses in Tasmania. It means Tasmanians will be able to say our electricity is 100 per cent renewable. That’s a record for Australia and up there with only a handful of countries around the world. Not only is it great that Tasmania will soon be producing enough clean renewable energy for all Australia’s energy industry is also changing. As a Tasmanians, but we can produce even more. In fact country we are introducing more and more renewable we have so much renewable energy ready to be energy from natural resources like wind and solar. developed that we set a target to double how much At the same time some of Australia’s older plants that we produce by 2040. What’s exciting is that Tasmania use fossil fuels like coal are planning to close. is the only place in the world that has set such a We need to ensure people have enough electricity target. to power their homes and businesses. But what is Growing our renewable energy production will great is that Tasmania wants to help Australia create jobs for young people and help ensure a by providing more of our clean, reliable and strong future for all Tasmanians for years to come. affordable energy for them. 1 Tasmania already provides some electricity to The Government also recognises that climate change mainland Australia through an undersea cable across is one of the most important issues for young people, Bass Strait, called Basslink. Now Tasmania has big as it is you who will be most affected into the future. plans to put in two more cables called MarinusLink, Tasmania can play such an important role. Not only to send even more of our renewable energy across were we the first state in Australia to reach zero to the mainland. It means more Australians will get net emissions in 2015, but we have held that amazing the benefit of our low cost, reliable and clean energy. position for five years running. In May we launched our Draft Tasmanian Renewable Renewable energy will be key in creating a cleaner Energy Action Plan which explains how we plan to environment and more sustainable future for produce more renewable energy for use here in everyone. Tasmania and on mainland Australia. We also have That’s why we have produced a version of the draft exciting plans to turn our renewable energy into Plan so that you and other young people can have a hydrogen so we can send our renewable energy say on Tasmania’s plan for increased growth and use beyond Australia to other countries, so that even of renewable energy. more people can get the benefit of Tasmania’s energy. This is your opportunity to tell the Tasmanian Government what you think about our plans to It is our goal to build a renewable energy industry expand and grow our clean, reliable and affordable that can safeguard Tasmania’s future while helping it renewable energy sector. We look forward to recover from COVID-19. hearing from you. Hon Guy Barnett MP Minister for Energy 2 Talking with children and young people In May this year, the Tasmanian Government You don’t have to answer all of the questions, but we published a draft document called the Tasmanian would appreciate your thoughts and ideas on any that Renewable Energy Action Plan. It explains the you would like to answer. actions that will help Tasmania take the next steps Your answers will go to the Tasmanian Minister for towards generating more renewable energy for use Energy to help the Tasmanian Government finalise in Tasmania and on mainland Australia. If you want their Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan which to find out more you can read about it here: https:// will be published before the end of this year. www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/energy_and_resources/ energy/renewable_energy. The closing date for your feedback is 22 October 2020. The Government has created this version of the draft plan, at the suggestion of Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, so that you can have your say on the Tasmanian Government’s plan for increased use of renewable energy to help our environment and to create the jobs of the future. Environmental issues and Tasmania’s future are really important issues for children and young people, which is why we want you to tell us what you think of our plans to expand and grow our renewable energy sector. To help you we have prepared some survey 22 October questions which you can find here: www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5839970/CCYP- Renewables-Have-your-say 3 Survey questions 1. How can the Tasmanian Government involve children and young people more in discussions about the role that renewable energy can play in addressing climate change and building a cleaner environment? 2. Should the Government try to create more jobs in renewable energy? If yes, what is the best way to do this? 3. Do you think the Tasmanian Government should set strong renewable energy targets (or goals)? Why? 4. Should the Tasmanian Government support large renewable energy projects like Project Marinus and Battery of the Nation? Which ones? Why? 5. Pollution from vehicles using fossils fuels is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions around the world. Should the Tasmanian Government invest in alternative renewable fuel sources like hydrogen, or sustainable technology such as electric vehicles? Why? 6. Waste from industrial processes (e.g. factories), agriculture, forestry and rubbish can be turned into renewable energy (bioenergy) to provide heat, electricity and fuel for trucks or other transport vehicles. Should the Tasmanian Government be looking at how we could make electricity, heat or fuel from bioenergy in Tasmania? Why? 7. Is Tasmania’s ‘brand’ as a clean, green place to work and live important? Should clean renewable energy be part of this brand? If so, why? 8. Is there anything else that you think the Tasmanian Government should know or be doing? 4 Definitions of key terms Below are some key terms and definitions we use in the plan Brand A brand is a name given to a product or service that has its own identity. Bioenergy Bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that uses organic renewable materials Carbon emissions (known as biomass) to produce heat, electricity, Carbon emissions (also known as biogas and liquid fuels. The most cost effective and greenhouse gases) are the release of environmentally friendly sources of biomass are carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon CO2 wastewater, Council waste and emissions are the main contributors waste streams from agriculture, to climate change. Burning fossil fuels forestry and industry. for energy is a key source of carbon emissions. Decarbonisation Fossil fuels The reduction or elimination of carbon dioxide C emissions that are produced by human activity, in This describes a group of O energy sources that have 2 particular, through reducing the use of fossil fuels. been formed from ancient plants and organisms a very long time NEM The ago (before dinosaurs!). There are three National Electricity main types of fossil fuels: coal, oil and Market. natural gas. Pollution The contamination of air, water or soil by Renewable energy things that are harmful to living organisms. Energy that comes from natural resources such Pollution can occur naturally, for as sunlight, wind, biomass or water which is example through volcanic eruptions, constantly replaced or refilled and never runs or from human activities, such out. This is unlike energy that comes from non- as through spilling oil or through renewable resources, such as coal, gas or oil, releasing carbon emissions. which runs out once it is used. 5 Renewable Energy in Tasmania Renewable Something that is not totally used up or Tasmania has a long history of developing renewable energy. depleted when used. Our first hydro-electric (water-powered) generator, Waddamana Power Station, started providing electricity back in 1916. Sustainable In the 80 years that followed, Tasmania’s hydro-electricity system Using natural resources in a grew to have 30 power stations and 54 dams. So Tasmania has long way that we could keep doing been seen as having a world-class electricity system. for a long time. We can be Australia’s electricity supply industry is experiencing many changes more sustainable by reducing as older fossil fuel generators, such as coal power stations, are and better managing our use of beginning to shut down as the nation shifts to using clean renewable natural resources. We can also energy sources. help restore natural resources.