Challenges for a Future Australian Electricity Network Dominated by a Geothermal Hub

Abstract

When a large power plant is located far away from major load centres and also from the high voltage transmission grid, a number of significant issues need to be investigated. In the context of huge potential for geothermal energy in the area of Cooper Basin, electricity transmission issues will provide some key challenges and opportunities for a future secured power network for the Australian national electricity grid. The Cooper Basin does not have electricity consumers next to it, so the power would have to be transmitted quite a long distance over costly transmission facilities. For example, the Innamincka power plant, which plans to produce 50 MW in 2012, will send electricity over 110 kms of transmission lines to the Moomba oil and gas field. It is understood that a 500 MW plant will be built by 2016, which is expected to supply power through a 500 km high-voltage transmission line to the national electricity grid in Port Augusta, and a transmission line to BHP Billiton