Asia Pacific Super Grid – Solar electricity generation, storage and distribution

Abstract

This paper explores the large scale transmission of solar electricity to Southeast Asia from Australia. Despite the expense and losses incurred in long distance transmission of Australian solar electricity, it appears to be competitive with locally produced solar electricity because of high insolation levels in Australia. Supplementation of locally produced electricity (both from renewable and conventional sources) with power from Australia, together with substantial integrated energy storage, would allow a high solar electricity fraction to be achieved in Southeast Asia.

The feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems: A response to critics

“…This is even true if future RElec is limited to technologies that are commercially available now. Regions with insufficient local RE resources will in future be able to import RE via transmission line [161] and/or tanker carrying renewable fuels. RE's environmental and health impacts are much less than those of fossil fuels and, within a risk framework that recognizes lowprobability high-impact events, nuclear power.…”

The feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems: A response to critics

“…This is even true if future RElec is limited to technologies that are commercially available now. Regions with insufficient local RE resources will in future be able to import RE via transmission line [161] and/or tanker carrying renewable fuels. RE's environmental and health impacts are much less than those of fossil fuels and, within a risk framework that recognizes lowprobability high-impact events, nuclear power.…”

Electric Power Network Interconnection: A Review on Current Status, Future Prospects and Research Direction

“…Several studies have shown the possible feasibility of Australian (South-East) Asian interconnectors [8,119,120]. A planned LCOE of US $0.18-0.25/kWh can now be supplied with solar power from Pilbara, Australia, to Java.…”

“…Compared to the existing Solar Electricity Feed-in tariff of Australian $0.193/kWh in Java, the study's authors argued that this interconnector business case could be economically feasible within 5 to 10 years if existing cost reduction trends continue. Blakers et al [119] argue that Australia's midday supply of high solar PV absorbs the importance of electricity storage; a factor of four will reduce the power needed to connect to South East Asia, smooth out peak generation, and flow throughout the day. The cost of transmitting low-cost solar and wind power from Australia is very high compared to South East Asia's regional generation and storage alternative [121].…”

Evaluation of Alternative Power-to-Chemical Pathways for Renewable Energy Exports

“…Over recent decades, there have been various research studies for building regional renewable electricity network often called super grid or global grid. Some projects include the European Super Grid [14], the Asia Pacific Super Grid [15], the South-East Asia or ASEAN Power Grid [16], and the North-East Asian Super Grid [16], which connects Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, and Mongolia. The more extensive version of this proposal is the so-called Asia Super Grid (ASG), which not only can connect the aforementioned five countries, but also Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and India [17].…”

The feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems: A response to critics

“…This is even true if future RElec is limited to technologies that are commercially available now. Regions with insufficient local RE resources will in future be able to import RE via transmission line [161] and/or tanker carrying renewable fuels. RE's environmental and health impacts are much less than those of fossil fuels and, within a risk framework that recognizes lowprobability high-impact events, nuclear power.…”

Electric Power Network Interconnection: A Review on Current Status, Future Prospects and Research Direction

“…Several studies have shown the possible feasibility of Australian (South-East) Asian interconnectors [8,119,120]. A planned LCOE of US $0.18-0.25/kWh can now be supplied with solar power from Pilbara, Australia, to Java.…”

“…Compared to the existing Solar Electricity Feed-in tariff of Australian $0.193/kWh in Java, the study's authors argued that this interconnector business case could be economically feasible within 5 to 10 years if existing cost reduction trends continue. Blakers et al [119] argue that Australia's midday supply of high solar PV absorbs the importance of electricity storage; a factor of four will reduce the power needed to connect to South East Asia, smooth out peak generation, and flow throughout the day. The cost of transmitting low-cost solar and wind power from Australia is very high compared to South East Asia's regional generation and storage alternative [121].…”

Evaluation of Alternative Power-to-Chemical Pathways for Renewable Energy Exports

“…Over recent decades, there have been various research studies for building regional renewable electricity network often called super grid or global grid. Some projects include the European Super Grid [14], the Asia Pacific Super Grid [15], the South-East Asia or ASEAN Power Grid [16], and the North-East Asian Super Grid [16], which connects Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, and Mongolia. The more extensive version of this proposal is the so-called Asia Super Grid (ASG), which not only can connect the aforementioned five countries, but also Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and India [17].…”

The feasibility of 100% renewable electricity systems: A response to critics

“…This is even true if future RElec is limited to technologies that are commercially available now. Regions with insufficient local RE resources will in future be able to import RE via transmission line [161] and/or tanker carrying renewable fuels. RE's environmental and health impacts are much less than those of fossil fuels and, within a risk framework that recognizes lowprobability high-impact events, nuclear power.…”

Electric Power Network Interconnection: A Review on Current Status, Future Prospects and Research Direction

“…Several studies have shown the possible feasibility of Australian (South-East) Asian interconnectors [8,119,120]. A planned LCOE of US $0.18-0.25/kWh can now be supplied with solar power from Pilbara, Australia, to Java.…”

“…Compared to the existing Solar Electricity Feed-in tariff of Australian $0.193/kWh in Java, the study's authors argued that this interconnector business case could be economically feasible within 5 to 10 years if existing cost reduction trends continue. Blakers et al [119] argue that Australia's midday supply of high solar PV absorbs the importance of electricity storage; a factor of four will reduce the power needed to connect to South East Asia, smooth out peak generation, and flow throughout the day. The cost of transmitting low-cost solar and wind power from Australia is very high compared to South East Asia's regional generation and storage alternative [121].…”

Evaluation of Alternative Power-to-Chemical Pathways for Renewable Energy Exports

“…Over recent decades, there have been various research studies for building regional renewable electricity network often called super grid or global grid. Some projects include the European Super Grid [14], the Asia Pacific Super Grid [15], the South-East Asia or ASEAN Power Grid [16], and the North-East Asian Super Grid [16], which connects Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, and Mongolia. The more extensive version of this proposal is the so-called Asia Super Grid (ASG), which not only can connect the aforementioned five countries, but also Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and India [17].…”