Hydro Tasmania will begin its annual cloud seeding program in April. With hydro storages continuing to decline, this year’s program will be particularly important to increase inflows into the catchments.
Hydro Tasmania Manager Energy Market and Analysis, Dr Michael Connarty, said the State’s hydro storages had seen one of the lowest inflows on record.
“The simple fact is that it is not raining in Tasmania,” Dr Connarty said. “Over the last ten years the rainfall has been below average. Currently our storages are at 20.9 percent full overall. Great Lake, one of Hydro Tasmania’s most important storages, has further declined to 13.3 percent full as a result of the lowest inflow on record for that storage over the past 12 months. This is 11 percent less than at the same time last year.”
Other lakes in the system, such as Lakes Echo and Rowallan, have also experienced their lowest inflows on record. These conditions put more pressure on all lakes in the system and additional support is required from our sources of electricity.
“Basslink has played an important role in supplementing our hydro storages, ensuring that we are able to continue meeting Tasmania’s energy demand without the need for power restrictions,” Dr Connarty said.
“However, we need to look at all options to boost our storages. Cloud seeding is another cost effective and scientifically proven method of increasing key storages in Tasmania and we expect our cloud seeding program to provide an additional 20 megawatts of capacity to our power system.
“At a cost of around $1.3 million to run the program, we anticipate a saving of about $3.5 million.”
Dr Connarty said cloud seeding was being widely recognised nationally as a potential strategic option to combat drought condition. He said the Federal Government and some States such as Queensland were actively investigating the science behind cloud-seeding with Hydro Tasmania’s expertise in the area in significant demand.
The Tasmanian program targets the major storages of Lake Pedder, Lake Gordon and Great Lake, and headwater lakes Rowallan, Burbury, Mackintosh, St Clair, King William and Echo and runs from April to November when conditions are favourable.
Following concerns about the possible impact from cloud-seeding on the West Coast community, Hydro Tasmania has been discussing with the West Coast Council the scope of a joint socio-economic study into the impact of cloud seeding on the West Coast region. Work has progressed well and implementation of the study is imminent.
Hydro Tasmania will continue to advise the community of its cloud seeding activities through public notices and with regular updates on its website at www.hydro.com.au.
As the water levels in the lakes continue to fall, Hydro Tasmania and Marine and Safety Tasmania is urging all recreational users to take care, particularly on Great Lake, Lake King William and Lake Echo, as previously submerged obstacles may become a boating hazard.
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