Tasmania's wind farms

[Old Farang]

Some of the people responsible for overseas investment need to take a closer look at just what China is up to around the World:

There's global interest in Tasmania's wind farms — but can foreign ownership laws cope?

There's global interest in Tasmania's wind farms — but can foreign ownership laws cope? - ABC News (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-06/foreign-investment-in-tasmanian-wind-farms-raising-concerns/13036164)

On the south-east corner of Australia, the winds known as the Roaring Forties whip across from the Indian Ocean.

As they cross Tasmania they lick its mountainous ranges, making the island one of the best spots in the world for wind farms.

And overseas investors have caught on. The majority of turbines on the island have some form of Chinese ownership.
But the foreign interest is starting to raise eyebrows, because Tasmania doesn't necessarily need the extra energy.

[NavyDiver]

Oddly who owns a windmill or similar doesn't bother my really. Agree some controls need for some security related assets. Poms, Americans and other investors from around the world have significantly added to Australians economic growth.

While silly trade games are occurring they are temporary. If some are paranoid a war is going to start or similar, I recall the almost frightening word "nationalization" which countries have used to take over strategic asset or steal things by very odd nut case dictator type governments[biggrin][biggrin][biggrin]

Oddly China seems to be doing that type of thing to a Billionaire Mr Jack Ma at present. Russia has done it more than a few times as well.

RE extra power to from Wind farms and Hydro in Tassie. hasn't they planned for another interconnection line to Vic so they can provide us more cheap carbon free power? "Marinus Link"

[Old Farang]

I think that you may be missing the point here. I live with China as a next door neighbouring country and see first hand what their attitude is to the rest of the World. Just yesterday they notified all the countries along the Mekong River that they are reducing the flow of the river because of "maintenance" to one of their hydro power stations, just as one example.

What is to stop them holding consumers to ransom with power supplies? A reliable power supply, no matter where it comes from, is in the national interest of all Australians. Have joint venture projects by all means, but control must be retained by Australia. I guess that this borders on being political, so should not be pursued in this thread.

[ramblingboy42]

I tend to agree with you , Old Farang , and I was trying to find an example of China's attitude to neighbours.

I don't believe we should keep allowing China to purchase anything in Australia.

They know who exactly who has what and in what quantity.

If they want to pool their qty as an aggragate and seek local representation to control it as it increases in size , then we have a real tactical problem.

China knows this , yet our govt's pander to them.

[PhilipA]

The thing about overseas assets in our country is that they cannot move.

If push comes to shove they can be Nationalised as a last resort, or the foreign investor can be forced to divest a portion of the investment, as China did in the 90s when it forced foreign companies to divest asset shares above 50%.

I always remember a story of the Second World War when it is rumoured that Atlantic Richfield owned the refineries at Ploesti that provided fuel to the Wehrmacht. It was not until August 1943 that the allies bombed them as AR put up a spirited resistance to the President. I haven't been able to find a reference to the political background but the idea is that China would probably be unwilling to destroy its own assets, maybe Darwin is safe. LOL

I see no problem with more wind generators in Tassie , but they won't happen because Bob Brown is against them.
Regards PhilipA

[Landy Red]

Tasnetworks operates the grid that distributes the power and sells it interstate via basslink. Tasnetworks is a state owned company. So regardless of who owns the power producing asset, the state controls the market. Electricity still requires poles and wires to get to market..

But who knows, great oil tankers converted to banks of batteries to take the electricity to market could be a thing of the future, then the Chinese could produce their power here and sail it home! That would solve their dependence on middle east oil traversing seas they can't yet control.

But good luck bringing a tanker into trial harbour or Granville!!!

[350RRC]

Oddly who owns a windmill or similar doesn't bother my really. Agree some controls need for some security related assets. Poms, Americans and other investors from around the world have significantly added to Australians economic growth.

While silly trade games are occurring they are temporary. If some are paranoid a war is going to start or similar, I recall the almost frightening word "nationalization" which countries have used to take over strategic asset or steal things by very odd nut case dictator type governments[biggrin][biggrin][biggrin]

Oddly China seems to be doing that type of thing to a Billionaire Mr Jack Ma at present. Russia has done it more than a few times as well.

RE extra power to from Wind farms and Hydro in Tassie. hasn't they planned for another interconnection line to Vic so they can provide us more cheap carbon free power? "Marinus Link"

ATM Tas hydro (and to a smaller extent Tas wind) acts as a 500 MW de facto battery for SA, Vic and to some extent NSW.

500MW is about the capacity of the (only) cable linking Tas to Vic, and hence SA.

The last few months this energy transfer (both ways) has resulted in really cheap spot prices in SA and Vic including negative prices even during weekdays.

I'd be way more concerned about ownership of the next cable between Tas and Vic or Tas and SA, which will be laid.

DL

[NavyDiver]

ATM Tas hydro (and to a smaller extent Tas wind) acts as a 500 MW de facto battery for SA, Vic and to some extent NSW.

500MW is about the capacity of the (only) cable linking Tas to Vic, and hence SA.

The last few months this energy transfer (both ways) has resulted in really cheap spot prices in SA and Vic including negative prices even during weekdays.

I'd be way more concerned about ownership of the next cable between Tas and Vic or Tas and SA, which will be laid.

DL

Still think our view on free and reasonable trade both ways with US. UK Indonesia, India, NZ .... requires a degree of trust. My view re silly actions such as Brexit, Hong Kong, our wine, crayfish, barley .... ( thanks for the cheap crays[biggrin] I brought a few King Island one. Mate in Perth feeds me very well with the WA version every time I am lucky enough to visit or I view it as return home [thumbsupbig] )
Still suspect China's dummy spit with us is a part of the proxy war with Trumps Trade war with them. Not suggesting China CCP or some of our pollies didn't get down and dirty. Fighting is not smart usually. Talking and resolving works so much better[thumbsupbig]