Why is hydroelectric power important in Tasmania?

Hydroelectric power is vital to Tasmania because it serves as the primary source of the state's energy, supplying the bulk of its total power needs.1

Historically, the development of hydroelectricity was viewed as a way to compensate for the island's relative poverty in other natural resources. The state’s rugged terrain and heavy, well-distributed precipitation—particularly in central and western Tasmania—provide ideal conditions for power generation. This potential was recognized early on, leading the government to secure public control over hydroelectric development to foster social and economic growth.21

The infrastructure supporting this energy production has also shaped the landscape, with several of the state's lakes, such as Lake King William, serving as artificial reservoirs created specifically for hydroelectric development. Today, renewable energy sources, led by hydroelectricity, constitute up to nine-tenths of Tasmania's total power supply.31