HyEnergy Proposes Long Distance HVDC Link in Australia
HyEnergy have recenly announced the HyEnergy HVDC Link in Australia—a proposed 2,800 km transmission corridor designed to connect Western Australia’s Gascoyne region with the East Coast power grid. Backed by Province Resources Ltd., this project aims to deliver over 20,000 GWh per annum of renewable energy, leveraging a 6 GW wind and solar generation hub, and is positioned as a nation-building initiative that could underpin the “Future Made in Australia” policy and accelerate the country’s decarbonization targets.
The HyEnergy HVDC Link is being developed by Province Resources Ltd. The route will run from the Gascoyne region in Western Australia to major demand centers in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria, covering an estimated distance of approximately 2,800 kilometers. The project is anchored by a 6 GW wind and solar generation hub and is expected to deliver more than 20,000 GWh of clean energy annually. The transmission technology of choice is High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), with a likely focus on Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology to ensure optimal grid integration and operational flexibility.
The choice of HVDC technology for the HyEnergy project is driven by superior transmission efficiency for long-distance, high-capacity power transfer, offering up to 40% capital cost savings and lower transmission losses compared to HVAC equivalent, particularly over distances greater than 2,000 kilometers. Additionally, HVDC-VSC technology is well-suited for integrating variable renewable energy sources and supporting weak grids, which is increasingly important for Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) as it becomes more reliant on renewables. The design of the HVDC backbone is also inherently scalable, allowing for future expansion and the integration of additional renewable generation assets along the route.
The proposed route strategically leverages Western Australia’s abundant wind and solar resources and connects them directly to the NEM. This approach bypasses current transmission bottlenecks and reduces congestion on the existing grid. Given the scale and ambition of the project, there is also potential for future multi-terminal DC grid applications, which would align with global HVDC trends and best practices.
The HyEnergy HVDC Link would be an enabler for Australia’s 2030 and 2050 emissions targets, supporting both the domestic energy transition and the country’s ambitions to export green hydrogen and ammonia. The project has engaged with both federal and state policymakers and has secured Lead Agency Status from the Western Australian Government. As part of the broader HyEnergy initiative, the link will facilitate large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production for use within Australia and for international export, tapping into the rapidly growing global market for green fuels.
The project faces several significant challenges. Securing land tenure and regulatory approvals is a complex process, with ongoing negotiations required between Province Resources and the Western Australian Government. Financing such a large-scale, cross-jurisdictional project is another major hurdle, particularly given the limited operational experience with HVDC in Australia and the nascent state of the domestic sector. From a technical perspective, the project’s scale and complexity will require advanced HVDC engineering, including the possibility of multi-terminal configurations and robust integration with the NEM.
HVDC-VSC technology’s ability to provide synthetic inertia, fast frequency response, and black-start capability is regarded as vital for supporting Australia’s grid as more synchronous generation retires. The HyEnergy link could unlock gigawatts of currently stranded renewable resources in Western Australia, providing much-needed firming capacity and supporting the reliability of the NEM. Furthermore, by enabling large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production, the project positions Australia as a potential global leader in renewable energy exports.
