wiredinUSA October 2015

INDEX

China’s grid boost

Hornsdale underway

China is investing around $313 billion over the next five years to improve its power grid infrastructure. Citing a report published on the National Energy Administration (NEA) site, China Electric Power News said that the funding will double the length of high voltage transmission lines to over one million kilometers, reported Reuters. The 2015-2020 investment plan will also strengthen sectors such as copper. About half of the estimated 8.7 million tons of copper consumption in China was used by power projects in 2014. China is also considering an upgrade to its cross-country power transmission capacity to take surplus energy from the resource-rich far western area to the eastern coast, helping to reduce the region’s dependency on coal. The country has already built ultra-high voltage power lines to connect the giant thermal power and hydroelectric stations in the west to eastern coastal regions of the country. The government is also planning to launch spot electricity trading platforms to enable generators and users to set their own tariffs, currently set by the state.

Siemens and Neoen Australia have signed a contract for the Hornsdale wind farm project, located in the state of South Australia. After commissioning, the Hornsdale wind power plant is expected to produce over 400GWh per year – an amount of energy equivalent toa fifthof the territory’s annual electricity consumption. At the signing ceremony, Australian Capital Territory’s environment minister, Simon Corbell, emphasized: “As one of the winners of our first wind auction, Hornsdale plays a critical role in helping the ACT to achieve its 90 percent renewable target.” The Hornsdale project will support the renewable energy center of excellence at theCanberra Institute of Technology by creating opportunities for employment, training and investment in both the ACT and South Australia. Construction on the project will begin immediately. Siemens will provide full turnkey services, including 32 wind turbines, with associated civil and electrical infrastructure. Siemens will also maintain the wind farm for Neoen on a long-term maintenance contract.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - October 2015

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