Hitachi Energy to supply converter stations for Australia’s Marinus Link

Hitachi Energy has been selected by Marinus Link Pty Ltd (MLPL) to supply a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) project in Australia, which will augment the connection between the mainland and Tasmania’s grid.

Hitachi Energy will supply its HVDC Light voltage source converter (VSC) stations in the first stage of the project, which involves an approximate 345km cable route HVDC system to enable the flow of renewable power in both directions between the Victorian and Tasmanian states.

Hitachi Energy’s tech will convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) for long-distance transmission and DC to AC, where the power is returned to the grid.

The Marinus Link will use advanced converter technology at both ends of the link to stabilise and integrate more renewables into the power grid.

The connection will enable the Tasmanian state to import excess supply of solar and wind produced in Victoria, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy.

Clean hydropower can then feed the mainland grid when it is needed most, acting as a large battery for the nation. Moreover, it strengthens the security of supply in the Australian power grid in which electricity is increasingly generated from sustainable energy.

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Upon completion of both project stages, Marinus Link will have a total capacity of 1,500MW, equal to the power needed for 1.5 million Australian homes.

In line with Australia’s net zero ambitions, as coal-fueled generation is retired, this link will result in saving up to 140 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050, equal to taking approximately 1 million cars off the road.

Marinus Link is considered a project of national significance that will play a fundamental role in the two states’ energy ecosystems in which power infrastructure requires a major overhaul to satisfy the growing electrical demands.

Commenting in a release, Marinus Link CEO Caroline Wykamp said, “With our essential HVDC systems secured, Marinus Link is poised for delivery by the end of the decade. Marinus Link is a cornerstone project of the Australian Government’s Rewiring the Nation Plan and is classified as urgent in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s national energy plan.

“The Australian, Tasmanian and Victorian governments recently entered an historic agreement for joint ownership of Marinus Link, securing it as a critical transmission project for Australia.”

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects. Today, the company has the largest installed base of HVDC in the world.