Australia's Hydro Tasmania is continuing to experience low hydro storages with inflows into its lakes falling to around 30% of the average expected at this time of year, with no significant rainfall expected.
Hydro storages are currently 32.9% full, a drop of 1% from last month and 8% lower than the same time last year. Great Lake is currently 18.7% full compared to 31.3% last year, and has experienced its lowest 12-month inflows on record.
Hydro Tasmania Manager Energy and Market Analysis, Dr Michael Connarty, said without the option of being able to import energy through Basslink and access to gas at Bell Bay the storages would be considerably lower.
‘The commissioning of Basslink and the changeover to gas at Bell Bay has provided much needed flexibility into our power system,’ he said. ‘Even with these dry conditions, Hydro Tasmania does not expect there to be any supply issues in the foreseeable future. If the dry conditions continue, more reliance will be placed on Basslink to assist in managing the storages.’
The company expects to keep using Bell Bay through to January to take the pressure off Great Lake and the Northern headwaters storages. It will also have one of the machines at Gordon power station back from refurbishment which will assist in managing Great Lake levels over the forthcoming summer.