Farmers prompt transmission giant to find new route for link supporting 100 pct renewables plan

Community views have forced South Australia’s main network company to rethink the southern section of a major new transmission project, after farmers objected to transmission towers fragmenting high yield cropping land.

ElectraNet is adding a new investigation area further east for its major Northern Transmission Project (NTx South), following concerns the current four corridors are focused one on the state’s fertile horticultural areas, between Bundey and the northern suburbs of Adelaide. 

The network company says as a result of talks with communities it is opening up a new investigation area to the east of Eudunda, where South Australia’s agriculture shifts from high yield cropping to pasture. 

But it also warns that if the numbers don’t stack up, it may still need to use one of the original pathways.

The NTx South project is a new transmission line of as yet unknown capacity designed to connect Adelaide with the industrial town of Whyalla on the Eyre Peninsula, and better connect a wealth of huge renewable energy projects into the state grid.

South Australia already sources three quarters of its average demand needs from wind and solar, the most in the world for a gigawatt scale grid, and plans to reach 100 per cent net renewables by the end of 2027.

The new transmission project is designed to support more projects that will support new demand centres, electrification and green industries in a state aiming for well beyond 100 per cent net renewables in the future.

For the NTx, the preferred corridor trom Whyalla, (the green shading in the image above) swings east through marginal rangelands before hooking around to the south, circling the huge wind projects currently hugging the 275 kilovolt (kV) line threading through Burra and Jamestown. 

It connects into the Bundey substation, the jumping off for the interstate Project EnergyConnect interconnector.

From Bundey are four different route options to get to the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Originally identified by desktop analysis, these are coming under pressure from local knowledge. 

“We’ve heard the feedback from communities in the Mid North and we’re acting on it,” said ElectraNet’s Len Schoots, who is responsible for major projects.

“This change in focus allows us to consider additional feasible land that may better align with community expectations.”

This time, the new possible corridors will also be informed by “local knowledge, detailed studies and engagement outcomes – not just technical criteria alone,” Schoots says.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has given ElectraNet an extra six months to do its homework and deliver the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) in mid-2026.

Schoots acknowledged the stress that extended deadlines was creating in communities, especially the more densely populated areas of the south. 

“We understand our presence in the area has caused concern and uncertainty,” he said.

“But this is a long and detailed planning process, and every voice we hear is helping us make better decisions. We’re committed to finding a corridor that delivers the greatest benefits while minimising impacts on the things people care the most about.”

While South Australia has delivered its end of the Project EnergyConnect interconnector more or less on time and on budget, the industry is more used to news of delays and cost blowouts. 

Delays like ElectraNet’s latest with NTx South will be triggering to those for whom the numbers for VNI West, Humelink and New South Wales renewable energy zone transmission projects are becoming too high to contemplate.

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