Project Marinus Stage 1 advances to anticipated status in national grid plan

The joint proponents of Project Marinus – Marinus Link Pty Ltd (MLPL) and TasNetworks – welcome today’s release of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan, which recognises the project’s key role in Australia’s energy future.

The Draft ISP reaffirms that renewable energy, connected by transmission and distribution, firmed with storage and backed up by gas, presents the least-cost way to supply secure and reliable electricity to consumers through to 2050, as coal plants retire and while meeting government policies.

Project Marinus is on the Optimal Development Path, along with other critical transmission investments forecast to save consumers $22 billion in avoided costs and deliver emissions reductions valued at $2 billion.

According to the report, Project Marinus Stage 1 is among three projects that have advanced since the 2024 ISP to now be listed as committed and anticipated transmission projects, demonstrating the progress the project continues to make towards commencing construction in 2026.

The report also listed Project Marinus Stage 2 as likely to remain actionable, a signal of the project’s important and ongoing role in providing a secure and stable energy grid.

Marinus Link Pty Ltd CEO Stephanie McGregor said the report recognises the pivotal year of progress on Marinus Link and reaffirms the project’s value to consumers.

“Marinus Link Stage 1 is now fully funded, we have primary Commonwealth and Victorian environmental approvals, a draft regulatory decision and almost all major contracts in place,” Ms McGregor said.

Marinus Link is essential infrastructure for grid reliability, resilience, and the efficient use of energy resources, which ultimately flows through to consumers,” she said.

“With Marinus Link in place, Tasmania and Victoria can share much more electricity, pairing Victoria’s wind and solar with Tasmania’s flexible hydropower system and geographically diverse wind.

Marinus Link and the North West Transmission Developments projects are collectively known as Project Marinus.

TasNetworks CEO, Seán Mc Goldrick, pointed to AEMO’s recent Transition Plan for System Security, which concludes the switch to clean energy will bring power prices down over the next five years, but they’ll drift higher in the 2030s unless clean energy rolls out quickly enough.

“We have a duty to start building NWTD early next year for Tasmanians who want and need the lowest possible future prices,” Dr Mc Goldrick said.

“Simple supply and demand: abundant energy equals lower prices. And we can only have abundant clean energy with transmission projects like NWTD, which carry necessary up-front cost.

“We’re building NWTD to help protect Tasmanians and Australians on power prices. That’s always been the motivation, and we appreciate AEMO’s supporting analysis,” he said.

Hugely boosting Tasmania’s clean energy capacity through Marinus Link and NWTD will:

• Help keep future prices as low as possible (abundant access to clean, cheaper power);
• Create thousands of well-paid future clean energy careers;
• Slash emissions by about 70-million tonnes – equivalent of 500,000 cars off the road;
• Give Tasmania and Australia enough electricity when and while coal’s phased-out.

The Draft 2025 Integrated System Plan can be viewed on AEMO’s website