The Energy numbers

The above is my attempt to present two graphs provided to me as a Minister by the prestigious ABB Company who are world leaders in generation and in particular Electrical Transmission Technology but ignored by Australia's energy sector whom stay cuddled within the "security" of what they know and what they practised when each State provided electricity services only within their geographic Boundaries.

Government advisers like AEMO are no better, mixing up capital costs as more important than the energy losses inherent in their antiquated infrastructure and thus in answer to briefing of Parliamentary Staff (which had to be taken on notice) the written reply was that HIGH Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission was "BLUE SKY"

This fear is also engendered by the Choice of HVDC for short distance INTERCONNECTORS between State networks where the required "Converter" stations add disproportionally to the per km cost.

But as the recognition of the failure of virtually every initiative that has been taken TO PROVE WIND AND SUNSHINE CAN WORK ON A DEMAND BASIS THE FUNDAMENTAL OF THE OPENING PARAGRAPH THAT TELLS US THAT ONLY 20% of our primary energy resources are of ECONOMIC BENEFIT, WHEN WORLDS BEST PRACTICE IS 40%and this graph TELLS US WHERE TO LOOK IS A DEMAND THAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE ELSEWHERE

.BUT AS I WRITE WORK HAS COMMENCED UPON AN HVAC 1000km transmission line between Wagga Wagga NSW and Robertstown SA which like the SNOWY 2 pumped storage experiment will suffer input energy losses of the order of 40% and ignores the alternative provided by Professor Simon Bartlett AM (for services to the electricity sector) whom proposed an Crossrope HVDC from Queensland (which unlike NSW and VIC. has the YOUNGEST OPERATING COAL GENERATORS) through desert country but adjacent to known gas reserves, to the ES Grid in SA.

Returning to that graph we are advised that the cost of simply accessing the primary energy resource eg GAS "well efficiency" would pay dividends but here the ABC are talking up OFFSHORE WIND (so we can grow coral on its foundations) and considering the cost of producing "renewable" energy is entirely the servicing of the Capital required AND ITS MAINTAINENCE !! with no guarantee OF SUPPLY ( read north sea wind drought) no one talks generated disposable UNIT COST (which when provided will not mention the legislated subsidy scheme).

As the graph proceeds the next step is "Transport" which goes well beyond say getting Coal from a Mine which of course requires construction of your generator infrastructure adjacent to a deposit AND SIMILARLY ON A NATURAL GAS DEPOSIT (of which I will comment further later)suffice to say natural Gas doesn't flow along that expensive pipeline IT HAS TO BE PUMPED by IN LINE GAS FIRED COMPRESSORS.

But moving on there is a big demand on that PRIMARY ENERGY lost in Generation but modern HELE contributes savings AS DOES DUAL CYCLE GAS GENERATION WHERE THE EXHAUST HEAT IS USED TO DRIVE SECONDARY GENERATORS.

Then we arrive at my favoured sector WHICH IS TRANSMISSION "LINE LOSSES" TO WHICH OUR PRESENT INDUSTRY HAS A LAIZES FARE approach LIKE WELL "THATS ALWAYS HAPPENED" Put simply AC current which greatly simplifies the SPINNING of electrical motors compared to DC is its OWN WORST ENEMY IN REGARDS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WANTS TO TREAT ITS TRANSMISSION WIRES AS THOUGH THEY ARE ENERGY ABSORBING MOTORS . AC current stands for ALTERNATING SO IT "VIBRATES" ALONG WIRES CREATING HEAT WHICH GETS DISAPATED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND SO REQUIRES VERY LARGE (copper wires) AND THEN STILL RUNS OUT OF PUFF IN A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE AND A BOOST THROUGH AN ENERGY CONSUMING TRANSFORMER YARD IS REQUIRED and which are also the things that hang on light poles frequently in your street where the poles carry two sets of wires the upper being at a much higher voltage to cover distance but must be reduced to serve your appliances Even those little street models have "cooling" pipes attached which is energy that is never sold so the system loses energy to boost it UP then MORE to turn it down.

To put some comparative figures on AC Transmission over distance the EU did an exercise termed Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that would generate solar electricity there then transmit it to Europe. Their study of transmission technology for the distance required were direct conversion to Hydrogen, HVAC and HVDC transmissions Their verdict of "losses" involved in transmitting the energy to destination (3000 Km) was Hydrogen 75% ( Twiggy take note) AC/HVAC "not over 30Km" 45% and 25% over whole distance and HVDC 10% which added a cost of 1.5-2 cents per KWh (unit) Which brings me back to Transport

As an example the original natural gas pipeline from Dampier NWA to Bunbury SWA was published as requiring 270 MW of gas energy to pump the natural gas that distance which relates I think to about 3000 MW across our existing network which is the size of our largest Coal Generator. So we waste that much energy for which we get no benefit BUT THERE IS MORE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS NOW PROMOTING SHIPPING LNG to Victoria and NSW (because THEY refuse to drill for the massive reserves within their boundaries ) The process of creating LNG, BEFORE calculating its shipping is the burning of 20% "Export Equivalent" of Natural Gas that is lost as compared to turning it into electricity in the vicinity of the Well Head and delivering it say 3000Km (ready for use) AT AN ENERGY LOSS OF 10% The sale price of that other 10% not only ensures reliable on demand supply it adds ONLY 2 cents per unit ALL Up to the well head value of the NATURAL Gas. This supply of electricity would free up large quantities of local or Queensland Natural Gas for direct consumption and result in significant Emission reduction at a cash profit.

In regards the present dilemma, WA also has a problem of excessive supply of roof top solar particularly during mid afternoons when domestic demand is low and sunshine bright but in the summer months this generation would meet the VIC./NSW evening peak demand directly and were an west /east HVDC Interconnector installed could even service desert Solar farms along the trip as it followed the sun.

HVDC due to its Converter Stations has an inbuilt capacity to redistribute electricity to places of higher demand Converter stations are expensive but that is offset by the electricity saved for sale.

Some years ago in anticipation of Mining demand in its MID WEST Western Power constructed a 350mw HVAC transmission line from its coal generators which terminated at Three Springs Village the locality of which is now the base for a new onshore discovery of Natural Gas which development is well advanced and the nearby Coastal region has high wind features.

Professor Bartlett has suggested an HVDC take off from this line in this region, utilizing LOW Cost speedy erection CROSSROPE TOWER construction ( see Trans-Africa Projects) which does away with Lattice Tower support and replaces it with premanufactured ( radio style) Towers delivered on site for erection with simple equipment and which are stayed with cables and erected in twos between which the CROSSROPE supports the TWO DC WIRES REQUIERED. Compared to the multitude of 50mm diameter cables of HVAC. The route proposed is from that junction across open lands to Kalgoorlie to then follow the Trans Railway reserve to connect with the ES Grid in SA. Estimated cost under $3bn. But only if kept away from the existing establishment who will quote excessive cost as reasons for not building it. The Namibians who have already constructed such a line could be called in to prove the point. Such possibilities as electrifying the Trans railway and connecting desert Solar farms from the same intermittent Converter Stations could all be assessed on a cost benefit basis as might be the under construction Inland railway with an extension of the HVDC North along its route which was the initial proposal of professor Bartlett as his alternative to the Wagga/ Robertstown proposal which among other issues might find itself bereft of Generation capacity .

In all of which I will make passing reference to the capacity of the Kimberley Tidal region where for instance the presently untouched Walcott Inlet was assessed by The World Energy Council and a 1967 survey by the WA Department of Mines as having the generating capacity of the Erarang Coal fired generator and much more to come. The TV coverage of a recent boating accident at the Horizontal Falls giving evidence thereof.