Hydro Tasmania has completed the modernization of the 34 MW Lake Echo hydropower station, on the Upper River Derwent catchment, in the Central Highlands region, extending the plant's lifetime by at least a further 30 years. The A$ 32 million (US$ 21.4 million) upgrade also increased the plant's flexibility through providing remote operation capability, increasing the station's ability to produce clean, dispatchable electricity to Tasmanians and to help decarbonize Australia's National Electricity Market, it was announced on in early December. The powerplant's renovation, which took 15 months to complete because of the complexity, remote location, and extent of works, included the replacement of the Francis turbine runner and either replacement or refurbishment of all other machine components, systems, and equipment. Commissioned in 1956, Lake Echo is one of the main headwater storage facilities for the Nive and Derwent river catchments, and is located on the eastern side of the Y-shaped Upper Derwent hydro scheme. The Lake Echo station releases water for use by a further seven plants downstream. Hydro Tasmania's CEO, Ian Brooks-bank, said the timely reset of Lake Echo ensured it would continue to provide safe, reliable, and flexible renewable electricity for decades to come. "Getting the most out of our existing hydropower facilities is a key part of the Battery of the Nation vision," he said. "We can fully unlock this vision with the new 1500 MW Marinus Link interconnector."
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