Rio Tinto will ultimately determine the direction of Southland's renewable energy strategy. Report recommends decarbonised study by 2030 A Southland Murihiku Regional Energy Strategy 2022-2050 report released by Great South yesterday revealed the direction of the province's decarbonisation pathway would primarily depend on whether Tiwai Smelter, part-owned by Rio Tinto, closed at the end of 2024 or remained open. A closure would result in an over-supply of electricity from the Manapouri hydro-electric station which could be used locally for the proposed Southern Green Hydrogen (SGH) and ammonia plant or be rerouted to northern centres on an aged and inadequate network causing large transmission losses.

https://www.odt.co.nz/business/smelter-key-renewable-energy-strategy

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