Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Using regional tension to generate progress

By Stewart Taggart - posted Monday, 20 January 2014


Later, high capacity, long distance HVDC cables could be added to this network. These would provide, among other things, access to terrestrial grids for offshore wind farms.

What's more, ASEAN's proposed Trans-AEAN Electricity Grid project already suggests laying subsea power lines along portions of the old Asian Gas Grid route and the more current proposed Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline project.

From there, the vision gets even bigger. Japanese telecommunications billionaire Mahayoshi Son has proposed an East Asian Energy Grid of high-capacity, high-voltage power stretching from Japan down through the Philippines, Borneo and Malaysia and then up the Vietnamese coast to Hong kong and up China's coast -- mirroring and extending the topology outlined above.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, my research organization Grenatec is actively examining the topologies and economics of a Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure of bundled natural gas pipeline, high-capacity high-voltage power lines and fiber optic cables stretching from Australia to Northeast Asia.

In expanding concentric networks like this, the South China Sea lies in the center. Everyone will gain from cooperation, and the kinds of networks outlined above could serve the region for a century or more.

Down the track, gas pipeline spurs could penetrate the South China Sea's deeper waters. This would extend development of the South China Sea's energy riches. These could include seafloor methane hydrates.

It could also encourage devleopment of ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC. OTEC exploits temperature differentials of 20C or more between surface waters and those found at 1,000-meters deep to create essentially limitless baseload power.

Finally, deepwater aquaculture could be developed assuming adequate infrastructure in the South China Sea. This, in turn, could provide needed marine protein to Asia's growing, increasingly affluent population.

In short, crisis offers opportunity.

Advertisement

Joint Development Areas in the South China Sea coupled with long-term infrastructure could bind the region together in an 'everyone wins' outcome for a long, long time into the future.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Stewart Taggart is principal of Grenatec, a non-profit research organizing studying the viability of a Pan-Asian Energy Infrastructure. A former journalist, he is co-founder of the DESERTEC Foundation, which advocates a similar network to bring North African solar energy to Europe.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Stewart Taggart

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy