{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox power transmission line | name = Directlink (Terranora) Interconnector | photo = | caption = | map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=8}} | map_caption = Location of Directlink (Terranora) Interconnector | country = Australia | state = New South Wales | province = | coordinates = | lat = | long = | direction = south-north | start = Mullumbimby | through = | finish = Bungalora | par = | owner = Energy Infrastructure Investments (EII) | partners = | operator = APA Group | cable_manufacturer = ABB | cable_installer = | cable_layer = | substation_manufacturer= ABB | substation_installer= | contractors = TransÉnergie Australia | construction = | expected = | est = 2000 | decom = | type = Land cable (buried) | current_type = HVDC VSC | length_km = 63 | capacity = 180 MW | AC_voltage = 110 kV (Bungalora), 132 kV (Mullumbimby) | DC_voltage = ±80 kV | poles_no = | circuits_no = 3 }} '''Directlink (Terranora)''' '''Interconnector''' is a mixed buried and above ground 59 kilometre (37 mi) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electricity transmission cable route from near Lavertys Gap ({{Coord|28|34|15|S|153|27|8|E|type:landmark|name=Directlink - Mullumbimby Static Inverter Plant}}), {{convert|5|km}} Southwest of Mullumbimby, New South Wales and Bungalora ({{Coord|28|15|20|S|153|28|20|E|type:landmark|name=Directlink - Bungalora Static Inverter Plant}}) & connected via a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) AC Overhead Transmission Line to the NorthEast to the Terranora Electrical Substation ({{Coord|28|14|28.3|S|153|30|12.7|E|type:landmark|name=Essential Energy - Terranora Electrical Substation|format=dms}}) @ Terranora, New South Wales in Eastern Australia. The DC cables alternate between above ground in a galvanised steel trough and below ground with depths up to 1 metre.<br>
It is one of the two interconnections used to trade electricity between New South Wales and Queensland (the other is the 330 kV Dual Circuit Queensland – New South Wales Interconnector (QNI)).<ref name=transgrid/>
==History== The interconnector was developed by a joint venture of NorthPower (later Country Energy), TransÉnergie–a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, and ''Fonds de solidarité FTQ''.<ref name=abb/><ref name=couriermail> {{cite news | url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/apt-buys-directlink-line/story-e6freqmx-1111112720711 | title = APT buys DirectLink line | first = Tony | last = Grant-Taylor | newspaper = The Courier-Mail | publisher = News Limited | date = 2016-12-20 | access-date = 2011-06-12}} </ref> The motivation to build the interconnector was the power shortage in Southern Queensland and surplus capacities in New South Wales. It was developed as an Independent Transmission Project.<ref name=abb/> It was commissioned in December 1999 and it started operations in April 2000.<ref name="abb"> {{cite web|url=http://library.abb.com/GLOBAL/SCOT/SCOT245.NSF/VerityDisplay/591D08FE788CCA54C125702700599F86/$File/Project%20Directlink-.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820011045/http://library.abb.com/GLOBAL/SCOT/SCOT245.NSF/VerityDisplay/591D08FE788CCA54C125702700599F86/$File/Project%20Directlink-.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-08-20|title=Directlink Project Queensland – New South Wales in Australia|publisher=ABB|access-date=2011-06-09}} </ref><ref name=powergen010501> {{cite news | url = http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/101136/articles/power-engineering-international/volume-9/issue-5/features/network-interconnection-murraylink-the-underground-connection.html | title = Network Interconnection: Murraylink: the underground connection | work = Power-Gen Worldwide | publisher = PennWell Corporation | date = 2001-05-01 | access-date = 2011-06-08}} </ref> It was the first time that transmission systems of New South Wales and Queensland were linked.<ref name="springer"> {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y1LM8i4oipAC&pg=PA172|title=HVDC and FACTS controllers: applications of static converters in power systems|last=Sood|first=Vijay K.|publisher=Springer|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4020-7890-3|pages=172, 174}} </ref> The construction cost US$70 million.<ref name="tdworld010299"> {{cite news |archive-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928190514/http://tdworld.com/mag/power_electricgas_utilities_threaten/index.html|title=Electric/Gas Utilities Could Threaten Telecoms|date=1999-02-01|newspaper=Transmission & Distribution World|access-date=2011-06-12|url-status=dead |url=http://tdworld.com/mag/power_electricgas_utilities_threaten/index.html |publisher=Penton Media}} </ref>
In December 2006, it was announced that Directlink would be purchased by Australian Pipeline Trust (APT, a part of APA Group) for US$133 million.<ref name=couriermail/> The transaction was completed in February 2007.<ref name=reuters250208> {{cite news | work = Reuters | title = APA Group H1 profit rises, upgrades outlook | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/apa-results-idUSSYD29228020080225 | first = Fayen | last = Wong | date = 2008-02-25 | access-date=2011-06-12}} </ref>
Originally, the interconnector operated as a non-regulated market network service. However, on 6 May 2004 an application to convert it to a regulated network service was submitted. The application was approved by the Australian Energy Regulator on 10 March 2006.<ref name="aer100306"> {{cite press release|title=AER final decision approves Directlink conversion|date=2006-03-10|publisher=AER|url=http://www.aer.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/692529|access-date=2011-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325150113/http://www.aer.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/692529|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-03-25}} </ref>
In December 2008, ownership of Directlink (as well as Murraylink) was transferred to the Energy Infrastructure Investments Group, while the APA Group continued as the operator.<ref name=aer2010> {{cite web | publisher = AER | title = Electricity Transmission Network Service Providers Directlink & Murraylink Amended Cost Allocation Methodologies | url= http://www.aer.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=735797&nodeId=0d936ed092c2c7f5ab6a0ce9fab915dc&fn=Final%20decision%20-%20Directlink%20and%20Murraylink%20amended%20cost%20allocation%20methodoloies.pdf |date=March 2010 | access-date=2011-06-12}} </ref><ref>[https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/Directlink%20-%20amended%20cost%20allocation%20method.pdf Electricity Transmission Network Service Providers - Directlink and Murraylink amended Cost Allocation Methodologies - March 2010]</ref> The ownership of EII is allocated as APA with 19.9%, Japan-based Marubeni Corporation with 49.9%, and Osaka Gas with 30.2%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apa.com.au/our-services/other-energy-services/electricity-transmission-interconnectors/|title=electricity transmission interconnectors - APA Group|website=www.apa.com.au|language=en|access-date=2018-12-30|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922095917/https://www.apa.com.au/our-services/other-energy-services/electricity-transmission-interconnectors/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Technical description== Directlink (Terranora) interconnector is a {{convert|59|km||abbr=|adj=on}} HVDC land cable route. The system has three 65 MVA Voltage Source Converters at each station connected by three pairs of transmission cables. Each pair of cables operates at +/-80 kV and transmits 60 MW. In New South Wales it is connected to a 132 kV alternating current transmission grid and in Queensland to 110 kV alternating current transmission grid.<ref name=abb2/><ref name=arrilaga> {{cite book | publisher = John Wiley & Sons | first1 = J. | last1 = Arrillaga | first2 = Y. H.| last2 = Liu | first3 = N. R. | last3 = Watson | title = Flexible power transmission: the HVDC options | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LAv9l3URn1AC&pg=PA31 | year = 2007 | page = 310 | isbn = 978-0-470-05688-2}} </ref>
The total rating of the interconnector is 180 MW.<ref name="abb2"> {{cite web | publisher = ABB | title = Terranora interconnector (Directlink) | url= http://www.abb.com/industries/ap/db0003db004333/2700978c26a07a70c125774b00410cbc.aspx | access-date=2011-06-09}} </ref> The maximum net transfer minus losses is around 170 MW. If one pair of cables malfunctions, the available capacity is around 115 MW. If two pairs of cables are out of service, the capacity is around 57 MW.<ref name="transgrid"> {{cite web|url=http://www.transgrid.com.au/network/consultations/Documents/110208%20-%20Far%20North%20NSW%20-%20Supplementary%20Report%20Final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724043605/http://www.transgrid.com.au/network/consultations/Documents/110208%20-%20Far%20North%20NSW%20-%20Supplementary%20Report%20Final.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-24|title=Development of Electricity Supply to the NSW Far North Coast. Supplementary Report|date=May 2010|publisher=TransGrid|page=7|access-date=2011-06-12}} </ref> However, in some cases for a limited time period the interconnector has operated in an overloading mode for up to 250 MW. The limiting factor for flow in the New South Wales direction is the thermal ratings of the Terranora–Mudgeeraba 110 kV lines and Mullumbimby–Dunoon 132 kV lines, and for flow in the Queensland direction is the thermal ratings of the Lismore–Dunoon 132 kV lines.<ref name="aemc"> {{cite web|url=http://www.aemc.gov.au/Media/docs/Review%20of%20Last%20Resort%20Planning%20Powers-2fda6f79-262b-482e-9de3-7c56768e700a-1.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100002/http://www.aemc.gov.au/Media/docs/Review%20of%20Last%20Resort%20Planning%20Powers-2fda6f79-262b-482e-9de3-7c56768e700a-1.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-06|title=Review of Last Resort Planning Powers|date=2010-09-17|work=Sinclair Knight Merz|publisher=AEMC|page=5|access-date=2011-06-12}} </ref>
HVDC VSC was chosen for this project for reasons of low environmental impact of the transmission route and the ability of the IGBT converter stations at each end to accurately control both real and reactive power. Individual water-cooled IGBT modules are rated at 2.5 kV and 500 A,<ref name="springer" /> with multiple units connected in series to achieve the required voltage rating.
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:2000 establishments in Australia Category:HVDC transmission lines Category:Electric power transmission systems in Australia Category:Hydro-Québec Category:Electric power infrastructure in New South Wales Category:Electric power infrastructure in Queensland Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2000 Category:Byron Shire Category:Tweed Shire