Transmission company Transgrid says Project EnergyConnect, the largest transmission project in the country to date that will link renewable-dominated South Australia with the coal-heavy NSW, is now 90 per cent complete.
The project is already partially complete and operating, with ElectraNet completing the first 200 km link from Robertstown in South Australia to Buronga in NSW and Red Cliffs in Victoria on time and on budget. But the longer NSW component has faced delays and cost increases.
The transmission link is a key part of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s grid roadmap and is considered critical to unlocking key renewable energy resources in the south-west of NSW, and also providing added grid security to help South Australia reach its target of 100 per cent net renewables by 2027.
Transgrid says crews working on its 700 kilometre part of the project have now clocked over 10 million worker hours. Construction on the NSW-Western Section got underway in 2022, followed in the middle of 2023 by work on the NSW-Eastern Section.
“Ten million worker hours is a remarkable achievement for our project teams and testament to their dedication, resilience and professionalism,” said Gordon Taylor, executive general manager of major projects at Transgrid, T
“In addition to building 700 kilometres of new transmission lines, the project also includes one of the largest and most sophisticated substations in the Southern Hemisphere at Buronga, a major expansion of the existing Wagga Wagga substation, and a new world-class substation at Dinawan near Bundure, NSW.
“More than 1,500 people have been a part of this colossal construction effort, from riggers and doggers, to engineers and electricians, to trainees and apprentices, environmental and support personnel.
“We’re pleased to have also worked alongside 325 local businesses to deliver the project, investing more than $264 million in supplier contracts, helping them grow and create local jobs as well as supporting the local economy.
The New South Wales sector is expected to consist of more than 1,500 steel towers and over 10,000 kilometres of cabling.
The landmark Buronga substation, the largest and most complex substation in the Southern Hemisphere, was completed in August, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development.
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