pilbara solar_140715
TRANSCRIPT
Consultants Samantha Mella and Geo� James and their multinational team are embarking on a prefeasibility study to investigate the viability of exporting Pilbara solar resources to high-energy-demand centres in Asia, transited through a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector. It is acknowledged that this is an ambitious supranational task.
Dr James and Ms Mella are liaising with the Pilbara Development Commission as part of the Pilbara Cities Economic Diversi�cation Frame-work. The consultants have garnered in-kind support and expertise from the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, General Electric, Basslink, and Solar Choice. This prefeasibility study will be the �rst commercially oriented analysis of its kind in Australia.
The prefeasibility phase will provide a ‘�rst pass’ examination of the solar trade concept. It aims to raise the topic for discussion both in Australia and Asia and build relationships with a consortium of stakeholders to explore the possibilities. If commercially viable, the project will progress through:
The Feasibility Study – a comprehensive technical and economic analysis that will result in an investment-ready proposition for a Pilot Project.
The Pilot Project – construction and commissioning of the �rst 1-2 gigawatt (GW) solar generation plant in the Pilbara region and the �rst GW-scale subsea HVDC interconnection to South East Asia.
The Incremental Build – the continuous build-out of solar generation and HVDC
interconnection over a number of years, based on the commercial success of the Pilot Project to create the backbone of an ASEAN grid.
While the scope of this initial project isprefeasibility only, it is important to understand the endpoint, or what “The Incremental Build” aspires to create…
South East Asia’s (SEA) electricity demand is projected to have increased by 80% by 2035, a total capacity of up to 270 GW. Planned coal-�red and hydro generation in SEA is already fraught with con�ict and is unsustain-able. Coal-�red expansion eliminates any possibility of maintaining global warming at less than 2 degrees, the 2009 Copenhagen Accord target. Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia all supported a �rmer target at Copenhagen, less than 1.5 degrees of
By 2035, a HVDC backbone from the Pilbara to Singapore and other key ASEAN hubs, in partnership with Indonesia, can deliver electricity to an interconnected South East Asian Grid. Some of this electricity will have already been sold via power purchase agreements, however some will be traded on the South East Asian Energy Market, following the precedent established long ago in Europe. The backbone grid and market operates in harmony with the Asia Super Grid (ASG), a multilateral electricity trading platform that draws on North Asia’s large renewable resources, balancing complementary seasonal variations in wind and solar generation.
Pilbara Solar and the ASEAN Grid
Evaluating the potential to export Pilbara solar resources and expand the ASEAN grid with a subsea High Voltage Direct Current Interconnector
Contacts: Samantha Mella [email protected] Geo� James geo�[email protected]
• Diversification of the Pilbara Economy• Developing a new industry and associated economic stimulus in the Pilbara• Economic resilience and prosperity for Australia in a post-carbon world• Opportunities for Aboriginal leadership in developing solar economies• Installing high-capacity backbone links for the ASEAN Grid• Decarbonized energy security for SEA nations• Emissions reduction, reduced pollution and reduced health impacts in SEA• Reduced land and water conflicts in SEA• Offshore development opportunities for Asian generators • Employment and sustainable economic development opportunities in all regions• Progression toward decarbonization in Australia and Asia
Pilbara Solar and the ASEAN Grid
warming, or 350 parts per million (ppm) of CO2
in the atmosphere.
SEA is crowded. The solar resource is reasonable, however land use con�icts restrict options. Opportunities for rooftop solar are limited. There are also limited wind resources and frequent destructive cyclones. Across the Indian Ocean in North Western Australia lies a vast reservoir of solar energy with the most intense solar insolation in world. Its time zone is synchronised with the daily energy demand of most east-Asian capital cities. The mobilisation of this solar resource to SEA high demand centres has the potential to bring many bene�ts to Australia, SEA and the world.
As part of SEA’s energy mix, Australian solar can help alleviate regional energy security concerns.It can enable SEA nations to develop their economies without the emissions, pollution and water issues that accompany coal �red generation. In addition, mobilizing Australian solar can help reduce the water and land use tensions that accompany hyrdo-electric gener- ation, or even large scale solar farming in Asia.
The Pilbara has immense solar capital. This study will investigate potential models for SEA generators and investors to negotiate land use agreements directly with the Traditional Owners of Country to build offshore solar operations.
There is an opportunity for Aboriginal leader-ship in developing solar economies in remote communities. Looking after “Country” is central to Native Title. Country is seen as 'Mother, Provider and Keeper’. The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation has described large-scale solar farming as “a sustainable, non-invasive use of Country, which does not require the destruction of the environmentand cultural heritage.”
A subsea HVDC interconnector between Australia and Asia would be the most ambitious in the world. It would revolutionize the way Australia and Asia trade energy in the same way communications were transformed by the �rst subsea telegraph cable laid by sailing ships over a century ago. It would be a frontier model of renewable energy mobilisation and global decarbonization.
A subsea interconnector would also support the emergence of a new economy in remote regional Australia, just as the 1903 Coolgardie Water Scheme supported the development of the West Australian Gold�elds.
A HVDC interconnector and large scale solar energy trade has the potential to bring many bene�ts to the Pilbara, Australia, SEA and the world. These bene�ts include:
Contacts: Samantha Mella [email protected] Geo� James geo�[email protected]
Images: YMAC