1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Well, yesterday we spoke extensively about gas, and today it's 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: all about solar. And many of us have heard about 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: sun Cable Project, a development of a major energy infrastructure 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: project that, once complete, will supply renewable electricity well to 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: Darwin and the Asian region. The project is going to 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: integrate three technology groups, the world's largest battery, the world's 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: largest solar farm, and a four and a half thousand 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: kilometer high voltage direct current transmission system from the solar 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: storage facility to Darwin, Singapore and eventually Indonesia. To some 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: the projects seems so large and complex that we've been 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: wondering how exactly it's going to happen. And I understand 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: that the project did reach a milestone earlier this week 13 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: submitting referrals to the EPA, the Environmental Protection Authority. Now 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: joining me on the line to talk more about this 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: is David Griffin, some Cable CEO. Good morning to you, David. 16 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: David, thanks so much for joining us on the show 18 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: this morning. As I mentioned, I understand the project is 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: a step closer with the application being submitted to the 20 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: EPA earlier this week. 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: Yes, that's right, Yeah, this is a significant milestone. As 22 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: you say, it's an opportunity to consult with the broader community. 23 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 2: It is the first significant part of the broader environmental 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: impact statement process. So there will be a more comprehensive 25 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: stage of assessment that will be submitted later next year, 26 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: sorry next year as well. 27 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: Okay, and then I guess what are the next steps 28 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: because it seems like such a huge project that many 29 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: out there listening will be really wondering how exactly and 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: when it's all going to happen. 31 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: Well, ultimately we're working through the development process in order 32 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 2: to start construction in October twenty twenty three. We want 33 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: to deliver our first electricity to Darwen in the beginning 34 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty six, first electricity to Singapore beginning of 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: twenty twenty seven, and then fully commissioned by twenty twenty eight. 36 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: To get to that, to meet those milestones, we've got 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: a huge amount of what will work get to be done. 38 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 2: But we are well and truly underway. Our submarine survey, 39 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: for instance, that's well and truly commenced. We've surveyed at 40 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: this point in time, was surveyed the route from Darwen 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 2: out the first eight hundred kilometers. We've still got a 42 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: little less than three thousand kilometers to go on that survey, 43 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: but that's all underway, and that's really critical data in 44 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: terms of being able to design the border system and 45 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: understand the environment that we're operating in. We've been collecting 46 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: other baseline data for a long time now. The solar 47 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: radiance data obviously is critical a good data set on that. 48 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: And yeah, we've got multiple areas of design engineering underway 49 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 2: as we speak, and yes, it's progressing very well. 50 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: And where are things that in terms of seeking approval 51 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: from landholders and also traditional owners. 52 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: I can't go into commercial arrangements, but we have very 53 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 2: strong support for the project from the past release holder 54 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 2: and we are at an early stage with regards to 55 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: discussions around an indigenous lang disagreement with nuditional owners. 56 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: And where exactly is the soul of farm going to 57 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: be constructed? 58 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: We're looking at there's four sites under consideration. They're all 59 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: to the west of Lake Woods or southwest of Lake 60 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: Woods and southwest of Elliott, so about seven hundred and 61 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: fifty colinies south of Darwen. 62 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: Excuse me sorry, And has COVID sort of been an 63 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: impact for you guys. Has it delayed things in any way? 64 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: I know it must be difficult. Well, it's difficult for 65 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: so many people, but particularly in the likes of Singapore. 66 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, it has been another challenge that we had 67 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: and they navigate around in the end today, it hasn't 68 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: really delayed our time frames at all. We just had 69 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: to find different ways to operate. We've got we've got 70 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: the team spread over many jurisdictions and fortunately we've never 71 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: been in a situation where all of the team was 72 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: in a COVID lockdown, so we've always had some flexibility 73 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: to travel and get the team around where they need 74 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: to be. And I think that's just the way it's 75 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: going to be from now. And you need that geographic 76 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: diversity to protect yourself from things like that. 77 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: And I know what is being reported that some aspects 78 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: of the project will be on the new car Waters Station. 79 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: Is that the case? 80 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, on the Newcastle Water's aggregate. Yeah, so on 81 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: Newcastle Waters Station proper or on Power Creek is another 82 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 2: part of that station. 83 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: And I have got a message from one of our listeners, 84 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: Eddie this morning. It says, Hi, Ktie, could you please 85 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: ask the Sun Cable CEO how are they going to 86 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: dispose of failed panels. 87 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: Are incredibly reliable technology, so they do degrade over time, 88 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: but it's a highly predictable rate of degradation. After fifty years, 89 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 2: they'll still be performing at seventy five percent of their 90 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: initial installed operating capability, So they will be there in 91 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 2: the first instance, they are going to be there for 92 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 2: a very long time. There are recycling processes that are 93 00:05:55,839 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: in i guess, not an infancy but their early stage 94 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: of development. But the number of solar panels that have 95 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 2: already been deployed around the world, and various government relatory requirements, 96 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: et cetera, demand that there is a sophisticated recycling process established, 97 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: and so there's a lot of effort going into really 98 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: commercializing that process. At the moment, we've got about fifty 99 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 2: years before we really need to get involved in that. 100 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: Okay, now, I know, David, whenever we talk about the 101 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: sun cable project, I guess because it's so large in 102 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: magnitude and it just seems so unbelievable, you know, to 103 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: have a cable going all the way from sort of 104 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: central Australia to Singapore. But there's a lot of nasayers 105 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: and a lot of people saying, Oh, I wonder if 106 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: it's a Unicorn project, is it really going to get 107 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: off the ground. I mean, what would you say to those. 108 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: People if you want to do something very large and complex, 109 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: there is always going to be a NASA And I 110 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: don't know. I don't spend a lot of time trying 111 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: to convince them. Otherwise, they're tree to have you think 112 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: whatever they want to. We just concentrate on making it happen. 113 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: That we've got a hell of a lot of experience 114 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: in this industry. We know the fundamentals extremely well, and that, 115 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: as you mentioned at the start, there's really three broad 116 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: technology groups. Is high other's direct current transmission, battery storage 117 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: and solar technology. All of those technologies have been around 118 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 2: for a long time. Battery technology is probably really just 119 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: coming to the fall now and from a commercial perspective, 120 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: but from an engine perspective, it's been around for quite 121 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: a while. The other still a long way to go 122 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: into improving those technologies. But we've been designing the system 123 00:07:55,280 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 2: based on current technology assumptions and it works. Our job 124 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: is to integrate well known, long history technologies and integrate 125 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 2: them together to create an optimized engineered system and so 126 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: our greatest challenge is to knowing that the system works. 127 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: Our greatest challenge is to get the best outcome out 128 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: of that system by through the optimization process. But yeah, 129 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 2: we just push on and make it happen. 130 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: Well, David, I really appreciate your time this morning and 131 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: appreciate you giving us an update on the sun Cable project. 132 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having a chat with us. 133 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 2: Thank you. 134 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: That is sun Cable CEO there, David Griffin.