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Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

pv-tech.org

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Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#131

Post by xandrius »

dyauspitr wrote: post #62
xandrius wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But if it's cheaper, let's take those easy wins and think about that later!

If it’s cheaper, vastly cleaner and viable, we shouldn’t let isolationist cynicism ruin that opportunity. Without oil from the Middle East and Russia, a lot of the world would grind to halt, but most countries cannot rely on their own reserves so the isolationist angle doesn’t even come up.

Sounds like exactly what the seller of commodity X would say to me considering not buying commodity X fron them anymore when switching to something else.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#132

Post by londons_explore »

ikekkdcjkfke wrote: post #110
londons_explore wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Power cables are getting cheaper and cheaper. The expensive part used to be the voltage conversion stations at the ends, but with mass production of MOSFETs for EV's these have now become far cheaper than the JFET's and other exotic silicon that used to be used. In turn, that means voltages can be higher, letting one use more of the cheaper PVC or XLPE insulating material and less expensive aluminium for the same amo…

Would they be using AC or DC? I heard that very long cables using AC can be more lossy

AC is a sine wave, of which the peak is a factor of Sqrt(2) higher than the DC voltage. That means your insulation needs to be sqrt(2) thicker - ie. 41% more insulation material.

On top of that, you also have losses to the cables capacitance with AC.

But DC has the cost of the conversion stations to consider - both capital cost and efficiency causing operational cost.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#134

Post by KoolKat23 »

hengheng wrote: post #25

From the article, it looks like they are installing 20 GWp of solar cells. ("peak power" that is only achieved when the sun is right above the solar cells with no atmosphere in between). The plan seems to be to store 36-42 GWh, and to deliver 2 GW max. That makes for a 20h energy storage at full power, and a big enough power reserve to recharge that storage during the day while delivering at full power. Likely a rese…

36-42GWh storage capacity is absolutely huge. From what I can tell, like ten times the size of existing storage plants around the world.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#135

Post by adrianN »

closewith wrote: post #99
audunw wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Space based solar might not take a form where we just put mirrors in space to boost the output of existing terrestrial solar cells. The benefit is that the receivers on the ground can receive energy directly from the sun when the sun is up, and the space mirrors can be used to provide light to areas that are completely dark in winter. I don’t think microwave beaming is ever viable Most fusion concepts are thermal pow…

What would those downsides be?

Steam turbines alone are more expensive than solar.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#136

Post by Kuinox »

londons_explore wrote: post #41
Kuinox wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What material is made the power cable ? I thought copper was getting more and more expensive ?

Some use Copper, but usually Aluminium is used. Aluminium is far less dense, which in turn makes the whole cable bigger, which has other costs (eg. fewer kilometers of cable fit in a boat). Usually it's still the best choice overall though.

Thanks for the reply

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#137

Post by stavros »

adrianN wrote: post #127
stavros wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You get the same if you place solar panels in places around the equator, without all the messiness of orbital repairs and GW death rays. I can't see this being cheaper than just some panels on the ground.

The death ray might be the feature that sells the whole thing.

I like the way you think.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#138

Post by tdrz »

londons_explore wrote: post #132
ikekkdcjkfke wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would they be using AC or DC? I heard that very long cables using AC can be more lossy

AC is a sine wave, of which the peak is a factor of Sqrt(2) higher than the DC voltage. That means your insulation needs to be sqrt(2) thicker - ie. 41% more insulation material. On top of that, you also have losses to the cables capacitance with AC. But DC has the cost of the conversion stations to consider - both capital cost and efficiency causing operational cost.

> But DC has the cost of the conversion stations to consider - both capital cost and efficiency causing operational cost.

I suppose you mean AC-DC conversion stations. Assuming only solar energy will be "pumped" over the wire, then the "only" conversion stations that are needed are at the consumer, right? I said it before, I don't know much about electricity, so please correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#139

Post by vlasky »

I'm Aussie and I can't believe this Sun Cable project is being taken seriously by our government.

The longest submarine power cable in the world - the Viking Link - is a mere 756 km long and cost US$2.2bn to build. Sun Cable calls for a 4,200km submarine cable to be built!

I do not expect the construction cost to scale linearly and I shudder to imagine the maintenance difficulties and expenses.

Back in December 2015, Australia's 290km long undersea Basslink cable broke causing the 2016 Tasmanian energy crisis. It took 6 months to get it working again. Basslink eventually went into receivership on 12 November 2021.

Something to ponder.

Re: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project to export solar to Singapore

#140

Post by theshackleford »

Aachen wrote: post #95
grecy wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All while Australian's themselves pay astronomical prices for power

Surely solar panels are affordable with typical Australian household incomes? And much more effective even in southern Tasmania at 45°S as compared to southern Finland at 60°N (where they're apparently cost-effective since they're building solar farms). If they feel their electricity provider is screwing with them, why not make their own? Probably even with batteries it would pay for itself given the ROI I'd guess pa…

I’do have to be able to afford a million plus dollar home first during a long running cost of living crisis before I could do any such thing.
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