FACT SHEET – 1500 MW MARINUS LINK – NOV 2020
DELIVERING LOW COST, RELIABLE & CLEAN ENERGY Tasmania has some of Australia’s most cost-effective renewable energy and dispatchable capacity resources.
UP TO UP TO UP TO
MW MW MW OF COAL-FIRED OF NEW GRID-SCALE OF NEW DISPATCHABLE GENERATORS ARE EXPECTED RENEWABLES TO REPLACE RESOURCES TO FIRM THE TO RETIRE BY 2040 COAL-FIRED GENERATORS GRID-SCALE RENEWABLES
Source: Step Change scenario, AEMO’s 2020 ISP.
Marinus Link and supporting transmission help Australia’s transition to a low emissions future by unlocking Tasmania’s renewable energy and long-duration energy storage resources to provide dispatchable energy when it’s needed.
Together they will help address Australia’s energy needs by supporting:
LOW COST Wind, solar, hydro and storage
ENERGY TRILEMMA
LOW SECURE & EMISSIONS RELIABLE CO2 reductions + Dispatchable emissions hydro + pumped targets hydro storage Marinus Link is a proposed 1500 megawatt (MW) capacity undersea and underground electricity and telecommunications connection that links North West Tasmania to Victoria. It requires further development of the transmission network in North West Tasmania. TasNetworks completed a positive feasibility and business case assessment for Marinus Link and supporting North West Transmission Developments in December 2019. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) & the Tasmanian Government supported this work. TasNetworks is now undertaking the Design & Approvals phase with funding support provided by the Australian Government. THE NATIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKET IS CHANGING
Coal generation continues to retire with variable renewable generation, such as wind and solar, increasingly taking its place. To support these variable energy sources, the National Electricity Market (NEM) also needs ‘dispatchable’ energy. This is energy capacity that is on-demand, such as hydro electricity and pumped hydro long duration energy storage resources.
Tasmanian wind Capital cost of has a 25% higher pumped hydro energy output energy systems and capital cost in Tasmania is is comparable 30% lower
COMPARED WITH MAINLAND AUSTRALIA
Tasmania has latent, clean and dispatchable hydro capacity ready to use A POSITIVE BUSINESS CASE ASSESSMENT
TasNetworks’ analysis shows that Marinus Link and supporting transmission:
◊ Have a positive business case assessment ◊ Are technically feasible and commercially viable for up to 1500 MW and will provide greater benefits than costs ◊ Could be in service from the late 2020s ◊ Will create billions in economic growth, thousands of jobs, and be a source of skills, training and workforce development potential in Tasmania and regional Victoria For more information see the Project Marinus Business Case Assessment Report, available here: marinuslink.com.au/business-case-assessment PROJECT COST ESTIMATE
Analysis to date estimates Marinus Link and supporting transmission would have a total project cost of around $3.5 billion (in 2019 dollars). This estimate includes allowances to reflect the present level of accuracy and contingencies that may arise. A PRIORITY NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
Project Marinus has been recognised as a;
◊ National priority project by the Australian Government to stimulate economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19 ◊ High priority initiative by Infrastructure Australia ◊ Major Infrastructure Development by the Tasmanian Government ◊ Australian Energy Market Operator Integrated System Plan 2020 actionable project, to be shovel ready from 2023 BROADER BENEFITS
Marinus Link and supporting transmission will add significant economic value to regional communities in Tasmania and Victoria based on expert modelling.
TASMANIA VICTORIA
UP TO UP TO $ $ BN BN ECONOMIC STIMULUS ECONOMIC STIMULUS CONSTRUCTION + CONSTRUCTION + OPERATION OPERATION AND AND 1400 1400 JOBS JOBS DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AT DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AT PEAK CONSTRUCTION PEAK CONSTRUCTION
Marinus Link and supporting transmission unlocks a pipeline of investment in renewable energy and long-duration energy storage developments. Together, these developments will provide an estimated $7.1 billion and an additional 2,350 jobs.
Jobs figure is the estimated average of direct and indirect jobs at peak construction for the period spanning from 2030 to 2034.
Marinus Link and supporting transmission are estimated to reduce at least 45 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from the NEM by 2050 WORKING OUT WHO PAYS New pricing arrangements will need to be agreed to achieve fair pricing outcomes. A fair cost allocation methodology for interconnectors is being investigated by the Energy National Cabinet Reform Committee. An appropriate pricing outcome is required for Marinus Link and supporting transmission to proceed. Marinus Link proceeding will see downward pressure on wholesale prices. 1 2 3 4 Feasibilty and Business Manufacturing and Project Design and Approvals Operations Phases Case Assessment Construction
Project Duration 2 Years ~3-4 Years ~4 - 7 years ~40+ years
Stage 1 We are here Stage 2 WHERE WILL IT GO?
The proposed routes seek to minimise adverse impacts on landowners, businesses and conservation areas whilst balancing key objectives of cost, efficiency and constructability. To date, work indicates that the proposed routes for Marinus Link and supporting transmission are feasible. Melbourne
Latrobe Valley
Proposed North West Transmission Developments
HVDC route (indicative location only)
Burnie
Hampshire Sheffield Substation Launceston Staverton
Palmerston Substation 1 2 3 4 Feasibilty and Business Manufacturing and Project Design and Approvals Operations Phases Case Assessment Construction
Project Duration 2 Years ~3-4 Years ~4 - 7 years ~40+ years
Stage 1 We are here Stage 2
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The favoured technical design is for a 1500 MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, built in two 750 MW links and supported by High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) transmission network developments in North West Tasmania. The design includes modern HVDC cable and converter station technologies that support reliable power transfers across Bass Strait.
TASMANIA VICTORIA CONNECTS IN THE BURNIE AREA CONNECTS IN THE LATROBE VALLEY
CONVERTER CONVERTER STATION STATION
220KV AC <> DC DC <> AC 500KV
HVAC HVAC SUPPORTING BASS STRAIT EXISTING TRANSMISSION HVDC LAND CABLE HVDC LAND CABLE TRANSMISSION ~1KM UNDERGROUND ~90KM UNDERGROUND
~250KM HVDC SUBSEA CABLE Marinus Link and supporting transmission have a positive business case assessment. Work continues to progress this critical national infrastructure to being a ‘shovel ready’ project. TasNetworks is committed to working with stakeholders and local communities and to providing opportunities for feedback and comment on the project.
GET IN TOUCH
To learn more about Marinus Link, share your ideas and find out about upcoming stakeholder and community engagement events visit marinuslink.com.au, email [email protected] or call 1300 127 777. TASMANIA VICTORIA CONNECTS IN THE BURNIE AREA CONNECTS IN THE LATROBE VALLEY
CONVERTER CONVERTER STATION STATION
220KV AC <> DC DC <> AC 500KV
HVAC HVAC SUPPORTING BASS STRAIT EXISTING TRANSMISSION HVDC LAND CABLE HVDC LAND CABLE TRANSMISSION ~1KM UNDERGROUND ~90KM UNDERGROUND
~250KM HVDC SUBSEA CABLE FACT SHEET – 1500 MW MARINUS LINK – NOV 2020
1 2 3 4 Feasibilty and Business Manufacturing and Project Design and Approvals Operations Phases Case Assessment Construction
Project Duration 2 Years ~3-4 Years ~4 - 7 years ~40+ years Marinus Link and supporting transmission have a positive business case assessment. Stage 1 We are here Work continues to progress this critical Stage 2 national infrastructure to being a WHERE WILL IT GO? ‘shovel ready’ project. TasNetworks is
The proposed routes seek to minimise adverse impacts committed to working with stakeholders on landowners, businesses and conservation areas whilst TECHNICAL and local communities and to providing balancing key objectives of cost, efficiency and constructability. opportunities for feedback and comment DELIVERING LOW COST, To date, work indicates that the proposed routes for SPECIFICATIONS on the project. RELIABLE & CLEAN ENERGY Marinus Link and supporting transmission are feasible. The favoured technical design is for a 1500 MW High Voltage Melbourne Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, built in two 750 MW links and supported by High Voltage Alternating Current Latrobe (HVAC) transmission network developments in North West Valley GET IN TOUCH Tasmania. The design includes modern HVDC cable and converter station technologies that support reliable power To learn more about Marinus Link, share your ideas and transfers across Bass Strait. find out about upcoming stakeholder and community engagement events visit marinuslink.com.au, email [email protected]
Proposed North or call 1300 127 777. West Transmission Developments TASMANIA VICTORIA HVDC route CONNECTS IN THE BURNIE AREA CONNECTS IN THE LATROBE VALLEY (indicative location only)
CONVERTER CONVERTER STATION STATION
220KV AC <> DC DC <> AC 500KV
HVAC HVAC SUPPORTING BASS STRAIT EXISTING TRANSMISSION HVDC LAND CABLE HVDC LAND CABLE TRANSMISSION Burnie ~1KM UNDERGROUND ~90KM UNDERGROUND Hampshire Sheffield Substation ~250KM HVDC SUBSEA CABLE Launceston Staverton
Palmerston Substation Marinus Link is a proposed 1500 megawatt (MW) capacity undersea and underground electricity and A POSITIVE BUSINESS BROADER BENEFITS telecommunications connection that links North West Tasmania has some of Australia’s most Marinus Link and supporting transmission will add Tasmania to Victoria. It requires further development CASE ASSESSMENT significant economic value to regional communities in of the transmission network in North West Tasmania. cost-effective renewable energy and TasNetworks’ analysis shows that Marinus Link and Tasmania and Victoria based on expert modelling. TasNetworks completed a positive feasibility and business dispatchable capacity resources. supporting transmission: case assessment for Marinus Link and supporting North West Transmission Developments in December 2019. ◊ Have a positive business case assessment TASMANIA VICTORIA The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) & the ◊ Are technically feasible and commercially viable for up to UP TO UP TO Tasmanian Government supported this work. TasNetworks is 1500 MW and will provide greater benefits than costs now undertaking the Design & Approvals phase with funding ◊ Could be in service from the late 2020s $ $ UP TO UP TO UP TO BN BN support provided by the Australian Government. Will create billions in economic growth, thousands of ECONOMIC STIMULUS ECONOMIC STIMULUS MW MW MW ◊ CONSTRUCTION + CONSTRUCTION + OPERATION OPERATION OF COAL-FIRED OF NEW GRID-SCALE OF NEW DISPATCHABLE jobs, and be a source of skills, training and workforce AND AND GENERATORS ARE EXPECTED RENEWABLES TO REPLACE RESOURCES TO FIRM THE development potential in Tasmania and regional Victoria TO RETIRE BY 2040 COAL-FIRED GENERATORS GRID-SCALE RENEWABLES THE NATIONAL For more information see the Project Marinus Business Case 1400 1400 Source: Step Change scenario, AEMO’s 2020 ISP. Assessment Report, available here: JOBS JOBS DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AT DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS AT ELECTRICITY MARKET IS marinuslink.com.au/business-case-assessment PEAK CONSTRUCTION PEAK CONSTRUCTION Marinus Link and supporting transmission help Australia’s CHANGING transition to a low emissions future by unlocking Tasmania’s Marinus Link and supporting transmission unlocks Coal generation continues to retire with variable renewable renewable energy and long-duration energy storage resources PROJECT COST ESTIMATE a pipeline of investment in renewable energy and to provide dispatchable energy when it’s needed. long-duration energy storage developments. generation, such as wind and solar, increasingly taking its Analysis to date estimates Marinus Link and supporting Together, these developments will provide an place. To support these variable energy sources, the National transmission would have a total project cost of around $3.5 estimated $7.1 billion and an additional 2,350 jobs. Electricity Market (NEM) also needs ‘dispatchable’ energy. This Together they will help address Australia’s energy billion (in 2019 dollars). This estimate includes allowances to is energy capacity that is on-demand, such as hydro electricity needs by supporting: Jobs figure is the estimated average of direct and indirect jobs at reflect the present level of accuracy and contingencies that peak construction for the period spanning from 2030 to 2034. and pumped hydro long duration energy storage resources. may arise.
Tasmanian wind Capital cost of Marinus Link and supporting has a 25% higher pumped hydro LOW COST transmission are estimated to reduce energy output energy systems Wind, solar, hydro 2 and capital cost in Tasmania is and storage A PRIORITY NATIONAL at least 45 million tonnes of CO is comparable 30% lower INFRASTRUCTURE emissions from the NEM by 2050 PROJECT WORKING OUT WHO PAYS Project Marinus has been recognised as a; New pricing arrangements will need to be agreed COMPARED to achieve fair pricing outcomes. A fair cost WITH MAINLAND ENERGY ◊ National priority project by the Australian Government to TRILEMMA allocation methodology for interconnectors is AUSTRALIA stimulate economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19 being investigated by the Energy National Cabinet ◊ High priority initiative by Infrastructure Australia Reform Committee. An appropriate pricing outcome ◊ Major Infrastructure Development by the Tasmanian Government is required for Marinus Link and supporting LOW SECURE & transmission to proceed. Marinus Link proceeding Tasmania has EMISSIONS RELIABLE ◊ Australian Energy Market Operator Integrated System Plan latent, clean and CO2 reductions + Dispatchable 2020 actionable project, to be shovel ready from 2023 will see downward pressure on wholesale prices. dispatchable emissions hydro + pumped hydro capacity targets hydro storage ready to use