澳洲將擴大水力發電
Australia will put 2 billion Australian dollars ($1.5 billion) into expanding a hydroelectric project in its latest measure to avoid looming gas and electricity shortages across the nation’s densely populated southeast, the government said.
澳洲政府周四表示，將投入20億澳幣（15億美元）擴大水力發電工程，以此最新方法因應東南部人口稠密區即將短缺的天然氣和電力。
The government plans to increase the power output of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme by 50 percent, or 2,000 megawatts, by increasing its pumped-storage capacity, a statement said. Pumped-storage hydroelectricity involves pumping water uphill during times of low electricity demand so that it available to generate more power during peak demand.
政府聲明中提到，預計擴增抽蓄容量，藉此提高雪山水力發電計畫的能源輸出五成，約莫2000MW（千瓩）。抽蓄式水力發電在離峰用電時將水往上抽，如此便能在用電高峰提供更多電力。
Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull said the scheme would provide a backup to the national power grid in which both supply and demand were becoming more volatile due to a growing reliance on fickle solar and wind generation.
澳洲總理滕博爾表示，該計畫可作為國家電網的備胎方案，目前電力供需浮動增大，因為越來越多電力倚靠不穩定的太陽能與風力發電。
A bitterly partisan political debate over Australia’s energy security has intensified in the past two weeks since the Australian Energy Market Operator, which manages the national grid, warned of potential shortages of gas-fired electricity across southeast Australia by late next year.
管理全國電網的澳洲能源市場調度中心提出警告，明年底澳洲東南部的天然氣發電可能短缺後，澳洲政黨過去兩周對能源安全的討論日趨激烈。
來源：聯合晚報 時間：2017-04-02