Ann:HyEnergy Potential HVDC Link (Price Sensitive), page-4

Fyi, I asked my friendly neighbourhood robot to summarise other notable Australian HVDC projects underway in light of the PRL announcement yesterday (which, unsurprisingly for PRL, has yet to garner any media attention at all). This is what it told me:

Other Australian HVDC ProjectsBelow are comparisons with major HVDC projects in Australia, based on available data:
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1. Marinus Link (Tasmania to Victoria)
   • Overview: A 1,500 MW HVDC interconnector to link Tasmania’s renewable energy (wind, hydro) to the mainland grid, with Stage 1 (750 MW) targeted for 2030.
   • Size: 1,500 MW total (750 MW per stage), with a 254 km undersea cable and 90 km onshore transmission.
   • Cost: $3.8 billion AUD for the full 1,500 MW project.
   • Hurdles:
     • Environmental and regulatory approvals for undersea and onshore routes.
     • Financing, despite government backing (e.g., Australian Renewable Energy Agency support).
     • Community concerns over onshore infrastructure impacts.
   • Comparison: Marinus Link is smaller than HyEnergy’s 8 GW potential but is more advanced, with defined timelines and government support. Its HVDC cost is likely lower than HyEnergy’s, given the broader scope of HyEnergy (hydrogen + transmission). Marinus Link’s hurdles are similar (approvals, financing) but less severe due to its domestic focus and clearer funding path.
2. SunCable (Australia-Asia Power Link)
   • Overview: A 4 GW HVDC project to transmit solar power from the Northern Territory to Singapore via a 4,300 km undersea cable, supported by 20 GWh of battery storage.
   • Size: 4 GW HVDC capacity, one of the world’s largest proposed HVDC systems.
   • Cost: ~$30 billion AUD, driven by the long-distance undersea cable and international scope.
   • Hurdles:
     • Geopolitical and regulatory complexities across Australia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
     • Technical challenges of a 4,300 km HVDC cable, unprecedented in scale.
     • Financing, though bolstered by investors like Mike Cannon-Brookes.
   • Comparison: SunCable’s 4 GW HVDC capacity is closer to HyEnergy’s potential scale but exceeds it in cost due to its international reach. Both projects face significant financing and regulatory hurdles, but SunCable has stronger investor backing and a clearer export market (Singapore).
3. EnergyConnect (South Australia to New South Wales)
   • Overview: Primarily an HVAC project (800 MW interconnector), with HVDC considered for future upgrades to link renewable energy across states.
   • Size: 800 MW capacity, 900 km transmission line.
   • Cost: $2.3 billion AUD.
   • Hurdles:
     • Land access and environmental approvals for long-distance lines.
     • Potential cost overruns, common in large transmission projects.
     • Grid integration with variable renewable inputs.
   • Comparison: EnergyConnect is smaller and cheaper than HyEnergy’s potential HVDC system. Its domestic grid focus makes it less complex than HyEnergy’s hydrogen/export ambitions, with fewer regulatory hurdles but similar land access challenges.

Ranking

• Size: HyEnergy’s 8 GW renewable capacity suggests a potentially massive HVDC system, likely surpassing Marinus Link (1.5 GW) and EnergyConnect (0.8 GW) and rivaling SunCable (4 GW). Without specific HVDC capacity details, HyEnergy ranks among the largest but lacks clarity compared to SunCable’s defined 4 GW.
• Cost: HyEnergy’s overall $18–25 billion cost dwarfs Marinus Link ($3.8 billion) and EnergyConnect ($2.3 billion) but is slightly below SunCable ($30 billion). The HVDC component’s cost is speculative but could align with Marinus Link’s range ($1–3 billion) if focused on domestic transmission, or higher if export-oriented.
• Hurdles: HyEnergy faces greater challenges than Marinus Link and EnergyConnect due to its stalled status, loss of a major partner, and the uncertain green hydrogen market. SunCable shares similar financing and regulatory hurdles but benefits from stronger investment and a defined market. HyEnergy’s nation-building status may attract government support, but this is unconfirmed.