Australia’s largest transmission project reaches major milestones

The 900-kilometre EnergyConnect transmission project, that will link the energy grids in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales and support the renewable energy build-out, has achieved two major milestones including progress on the project’s main substation hub.

August 28, 2024 Ev Foley

Image: Transgrid

The $2.3 billion (USD 1.56 billion) EnergyConnect project, a 916 km interconnector between New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia with a spur link to Victoria, has reached two major construction milestones including the connection of the first section of the Buronga substation in southwest NSW.

Grid operator Transgrid, which is delivering the NSW section of the project, said the first 220 kV section of the new substation has now been connected to the existing Buronga substation, which will allow power to flow across the new backbone of EnergyConnect.

Transgrid Chief Executive Officer Brett Redman said connecting the substation is a key part of the safe testing and commissioning process toward prior to inter-networking testing, which will be carried out by the Australian Energy Market Operator.

“We are getting on with the job of delivering this nation-critical project which will give millions of consumers access to more reliable, clean, and affordable energy,” Redman said.

“EnergyConnect will allow us to move renewable energy between NSW, SA, and Victoria to where and when it is needed, which will help make our energy system more secure.”

Transgrid said the Buronga substation will be one of the largest and most sophisticated substations in the southern hemisphere and includes five phase-shifting transformers, two synchronous condensers and four shunt reactors.

The next stages of work will include energising the 330 kV equipment within the switchyard and testing of the new lines to both SA and Victoria.

The first of 334 Danubio towers has been erected on the 160 km line from the new Dinawan substation to the expanded Wagga Wagga substation.
*Image: Transgrid*

In another major milestone for the project, construction partner Elecnor announced it has erected the first of 334 ‘Danubio’ towers that are designed to carry the heavy quad 500 kV conductor bundles stretching from Wagga Wagga to Dinawan substation.

Elecnor Australia Project Director Filipe Delgado said the connection process required technical expertise and collaboration involving key civil, electrical, construction, commissioning, and overhead transmission line specialists.

Construction of the SA section of EnergyConnect was completed in December by SA grid owner ElectraNet which is responsible for the 206 km part of the cable in that state.

The first major new transmission line to be built in Australia for about 15 years, the project is expected to allow more than 2 GW of solar, wind and battery projects to connect into the grid.

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