Marinus Link

Marinus Link is a proposed HVDC interconnector, crossing Bass Strait and connecting the states of Tasmania and Victoria in Australia's National Electricity Market. If constructed, it would be the second interconnector between these regions.

Marinus Link
Location
CountryAustralia
StateTasmania, Victoria
General directionnorth-south
FromBurnie, Tasmania
Passes throughBass Strait
ToHazelwood, Victoria
Ownership information
PartnersTasNetworks
Construction information
Expected2027 or later
Technical information
Typesubmarine cable
Type of currentHVDC
Power rating1,500 MW

History

The first interconnector between the two regions, Basslink, was commissioned in 2005 and had a power rating of 630 MW. This connector experienced a fault in December 2015, rendering it out of service for six months. This was a major factor which resulted in the 2016 Tasmanian energy crisis. After the restoration of service, power rating of the cable was limited to 500 MW.[1]

In addition, changes in the industry nationally to prefer renewable sources have resulted in elevated interest in access to Tasmania's hydro-electric and wind resources.[2]

In 2017 the Australian federal and Tasmanian state governments jointly established the study of the feasibility of a second interconnector between the two regions.[3]

Project Marinus was established in 2018 and jointly funded by the Tasmanian Government, through its electricity transmission and distribution business TasNetworks, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.[4][5] It received a further $56 million from the Federal Government in February 2019 to progress then development of the interconnector.[6]

Project

The feasibility study was released in February 2019 and modelled an interconnector with a capacity of either 600 MW or 1,200 MW, connecting North West Tasmania to the Latrobe Valley area of Victoria. Such a connector was found to be economically viable under the retirement of Victorian coal power stations in the 2020s.[7] These values were used to develop the business case assessment, which was released in December 2019.[8]

The business case supported an increased capacity of 1,500 MW, constructed in two stages of 750 MW each. Various options for the schedule of construction have been considered between 2027 and 2032.[9][10]

References
  1. "Tasmanian power crisis: Basslink 'design and operation inadequate'". ABC News. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. "Tasmanian interconnector project sets sail". Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. John Tamblyn (April 2017). "Feasibility of a second Tasmanian interconnector" (PDF). Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  4. "ARENA - Project Marinus: Further Bass Strait Interconnection". July 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  5. "Accelerating a second Bass Strait Interconnector". 25 February 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  6. "Money for Tasmanian power link to Victoria". Special Broadcasting Service. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  7. "Initial Feasibility Report". Project Marinus. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. "Project Marinus - Project timeline". 1 February 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. "Tasmania Marinus Link would work best in fast transition to renewables". RenewEconomy. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. "Project Marinus - Business case assessment". 4 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
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