wiredInUSA March 2018

Partners in China

Energy mix on track

Dr Anthony Lynham

Tekmar and SBSS have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate as each other’s preferred partner in offering export and inter-array cable protection to the Chinese offshore wind market. Under the terms of the MoU the two companies will jointly promote their services in cable protection systems and subsea cable installation, respectively. Besides being the installation partner of choice for Tekmar products in China, SBSS will have access to the installation and vessel engineering analysis capabilities of AgileTek, a Tekmar group subsidiary. In return, SBSS will utilize the wider range of Tekmar products across other sectors such as subsea oil, gas and telecommunications. “We’re truly excited to be partnering with such a well respected company as Tekmar. On the back of our first offshore wind farm project in 2017 this MoU reinforces SBSS’s strategy of deploying our international experience into the domestic market, and offering high quality subsea power cable installations to Chinese developers,” said Tom Manning, SBSS’s commercial director.

Work has begun on a transmission line to connect APA Group’s $220 million Darling Downs solar farm in south-west Queensland, Australia to the state’s electricity network. Energy minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Powerlink had started construction for APA on a new 350m transmission line on three new transmission poles, linking the existing Braemar to Darling Downs transmission line. The farm, about 45km west of Dalby, will be one of Australia’s largest when it starts operations later this year. It will have approximately 400,000 solar panels installed over 250 hectares, generating enough renewable energy to power up to 32,000 homes. “This important project is part of the renewable energy boom we’re currently seeing across the state, including in south- west Queensland,” Dr Lynham said. “APA’s project is part of our $3.6 billion pipeline of committed renewable energy projects. We are right on track to deliver on our 50 percent renewable energy target by 2030, with the rightmixof coal, gasand renewable generation to maintain reliability and put downward pressure on electricity prices.”

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wiredInUSA - March 2018