Australia–Asia power link: environmental and cost assessment
Jeremy Gordonnat A C and James Hunt BA Xodus Group Pty Ltd, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
B Xodus Group Ltd, London, United Kingdom.
C Corresponding author. Email: jeremy.gordonnat@xodusgroup.com
The APPEA Journal 61(1) 16-24 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ20052
Submitted: 29 January 2021 Accepted: 27 February 2021 Published: 2 July 2021
Abstract
Australia’s high potential for renewable energy generation and the high carbon content of Southeast Asian electricity create favourable conditions for a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power link connecting Australia and Southeast Asia. This interconnector would link predominantly large-scale solar farms located in northern Australia to Singapore given its central location within Southeast Asia, high reliance on fossil fuel for its power generation, high demand growth and limited renewable potential and land surface. This paper presents the expected annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that could be offered by an Australia–Singapore power link accounting for the entire life cycle including HVDC cable embodied carbon and emissions related to cable transport, installation, operations and decommissioning phases. A levelised cost of electricity has been calculated to assess the cost-attractiveness of projects of this nature compared to gas-fired plants accounting for capital costs, variable costs, fuel cost as well as the subsea cable cost. In a world of growing environmental concerns, the decreasing cost of solar photovoltaic combined with future stringent carbon policies will gradually result in a competitive levelised cost of electricity of large-scale solar projects coupled with an intercontinental power link in comparison to local gas-fired power generation.
Keywords: decarbonisation, energy security, grid interconnector, HVDC cable, LCOE, renewable energy, submarine power cable.
Jeremy Gordonnat graduated with a BSc in mechanical engineering and MSc in ocean engineering. Jeremy is a Chartered Engineer, member of RINA and Project Management Professional (PMP) certified, with 18 years of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry covering field architecture development, concept selection, FEED, detailed design, procurement, installation engineering and offshore construction operations through roles within installation contractor, operator and engineering consultancies. Jeremy has an extensive experience in SURF (Subsea, Umbilical, Riser and Flowline) and floating system engineering encompassing risers and flowlines, umbilicals, power cables, mooring system, naval architecture and hydrodynamics. Jeremy joined Xodus Group as a consultant engineer in 2019. |
James Hunt graduated with a BEng in mechanical engineering, an MSc in physical oceanography and an MBA. He has 33 years of offshore experience and, in the past 17 years, has been involved in significant projects in the HV power and renewable energy sectors from early stage feasibility through development, planning, construction and operations and maintenance. James has fulfilled multiple leadership roles leading businesses and business streams but also as Project/Engineering Manager/Director on large complex international projects. His technical core competences are primarily in cable engineering, installation and offshore operations working in technical roles on more than 30 subsea HVAC and HVDC power interconnector projects, offshore renewable energy export and array cables. James joined Xodus Group in 2013 and currently holds the position of Interconnectors & Cables Lead. |
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