TasNetworks has purchased the former Tioxide site in Heybridge as a potential site for the Tasmanian Converter Stations for Marinus Link. The undersea component of Marinus Link will consist of two 250km long, 750MW undersea cables. Tasmania’s only current interconnector, Basslink, is 290km long undersea, and 500MW. It was built in 2005 and runs out of George Town, near Launceston.

As the world transitions towards variable renewable energy and more cross-jurisdictional electricity networks are established, numerous major interconnector projects are being designed or are under construction around the world. The EuroAsia Interconnector, connecting Greece, Cyprus and Israel, will be 2000MW and 1208km long. The EuroAfrica Interconnector to Egypt will be 2000MW, and laid up to 3km deep under sea level. North Sea Link, from Norway to the UK, will be 730km and 1400MW. The UK already has interconnectors to France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Ireland, and will have three more international interconnectors, to France, Norway and Denmark, by 2024.

Interconnectors are very much a key part of the modern global approach to transitioning electricity generation, ensuring wind and solar energy is shared and traded, and not wasted.

The construction of Marinus link will inject over $1 billion into the local economy, particularly in the heavy and civil engineering construction, renting, hiring and real estate, construction services, professional scientific and technical services, and manufacturing sectors. According to EY’s Economic Contribution analysis (2019), during peak construction from 2025 to 2027, Marinus Link and its associated infrastructure is expected to support 283 direct and 1109 indirect jobs per year in Tasmania, including electricians, engineers, builders, carpenters, plumbers, welders, metal workers, technicians, surveyors, marine specialists and support workers. You can read the report here
The construction of Marinus Link will enable new energy generation, energy storage, and energy consuming businesses to be established on the Cradle Coast that require reliable renewable energy and a stronger transmission network.