Hydro-electricity in Australia:
Large-scale hydro-electric power systems have been installed throughout the world. Each of these large-scale systems requires a very large dam, or a series of dams, to store the enormous quantities of water required by the power stations.
Australia has only a fraction of the hydro-electric potential that many other countries of comparable size and population have. With the exception of Tasmania, Australia does not have enough rainfall or the right topography to provide sufficient hydro-electric potential to fulfil all its needs.
Tasmania is the only state that uses hydro-electric power as the main means of electricity generation. In Tasmania, the hydro-electric potential is around 50 per cent due to the state’s high rainfall and mountainous terrain.
The first hydroelectric plant in Australia was built in Launceston Tasmania in 1895. New South Wales’ first plant was built in Dorrigo in 1922, followed by the Nymboida plant in 1924. Today, the two most significant hydro-electric power schemes are:
1. The Snowy Mountains hydro-electric power scheme. This is the largest in Australia, with a generation capacity of nearly 3,800MW.
For more information, go to:
 http://svc097.wic010v.server-web.com/
2. Tasmania’s Hydro-Electric Corporation
- with a generating capacity of 2,568MW
it is the second largest hydro generator in Australia.
For more information, go to:
http://www.hydro.com.au/home/
 Next Section >> Western Australia's hydro-electric plants.
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