Customer Requirements
National Grid’s goal is to have Australian states connected on a national power grid to enable sharing and efficient use of power. In Australia, power used in homes and industry is produced by generators powered from coal, gas, hydro (water) and wind, as well as some other minor contributors. The generators are connected via an electricity grid that delivers the power to homes and industries via power lines and cables. In Australia the power lines and cables connect Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and now Tasmania, thanks to Siemens’ work, in partnership with Prysmian, to create the Basslink high voltage connection.
Solution
We provided National Grid with converter stations and integration between the Victorian and Tasmanian power grids, and worked with cabling experts Prysmian, who built the 360 km long connection, to create this impressive installation: the longest power connection of its kind in the world. The undersea Basslink now connects Tasmania’s electricity supply to the mainland supply. Our involvement in this massive undertaking included environmental plans and approvals, design, manufacture, delivery, installation, commissioning and performance to a high level specification.
Benefits
- Connected the Tasmanian and Victorian (and therefore mainland) power supplies
- Enabled mainland customers to receive hydro electricity generated in Tasmania
- Ensured a more efficient supply for customers on the National Grid