Retention of Tasmania’s growing renewable energy generation capacity within the island would almost certainly benefit the industrial players by lowering the cost of power on the island.
The MOU also requires Rio to conduct separate studies into the creation of a hydrogen electrolyser next to the aluminium smelter and a third stream of studies into other “high impact” industries that could be developed on Rio’s vast landholdings around Bell Bay. “The power customers in Tasmania are entirely sensible in saying ‘why are we not using this great advantage for ourselves’.
“This means clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy for customers in Tasmania and across the NEM.