Hitachi Energy To Build HVDC Link To Connect Tasmania To Mainland Grid In Australia

the project will connect the two states of Tasmania and Victoria to enable transfer of green energy, and even provide a large battery backup

28 May 2024 09:48 IST

Hitachi to lay HVDC Line between Tasmania and Victoria in Marinus Link project

Marinus Link Pty Ltd (MLPL) has selected Hitachi Energy to supply a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) project, which will augment the connection between mainland Australia and Tasmania’s grid.

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The approximately 345-kilometer cable route HVDC system will enable the flow of renewable power in both directions between the Victorian and Tasmanian states.

For the first time in Australia, Marinus Link will use advanced converter technology at both ends of the link to stabilise and integrate more and more renewables into the power grid.

The connection will enable the Tasmanian state to import excess supply of solar and wind produced in Victoria, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy. Clean hydropower can then feed the mainland grid when it is needed most, acting as a large battery for Australia's national grid. Moreover, it strengthens the security of supply in the Australian power grid in which electricity is increasingly generated from sustainable energy.

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Hitachi Energy will supply its HVDC Light^® voltage source converter (VSC) stations in the first stage of the project, which will convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) for efficient, long-distance transmission and DC to AC, where the electricity is returned to the grid.

Marinus Link Pty Ltd CEO Caroline Wykamp said: “Today, we have taken another firm step towards project execution. With our essential HVDC systems secured, Marinus Link is poised for delivery by the end of the decade.

“Marinus Link is a cornerstone project of the Australian Government’s Rewiring the Nation Plan and is classified as urgent in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s national energy plan.

The project aligns with the country’s Net Zero objectives, aiming to phase out coal-powered generation and potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 140 million tonnes by 2050.

Upon completion of both project stages, Marinus Link will have a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts (MW), equal to the power needed for 1.5 million Australian homes.

Australia has committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The lowest-cost pathway for secure and reliable electricity is from renewable energy, connected by efficient transmission systems, supported by storage and pumped hydro.

Marinus Link is a project of national significance that will play a fundamental role in the two states’ energy ecosystem in which power infrastructure requires a major overhaul to satisfy the growing electrical demands and guarantee a constant and reliable power flow through Australia’s transition to renewable energy.

Hitachi Energy grid integration business managing director Niklas Persson said: “As Australia is rapidly transforming its grid to support the integration of more clean energy sources, we are proud of our HVDC technology that will help transmit large amounts of electricity with higher stability and lower electrical losses.

“Interconnectors like Marinus Link give customers access to affordable, on-demand renewable energy supply and increase storage capabilities.”

Ownership of Marinus Link Pty Ltd is divided among the Australian, Tasmanian, and Victorian governments, with the Australian Government holding a 49% stake, the Victorian Government 33.3%, and the Tasmanian Government 17.7%.

trans sea link renewable transmission Marinus Link large battery HVDC cable Hitachi Energy

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