HumeLink opens up to wind, solar and battery proposals, but Snowy 2.0 does not leave much room

The $4.9 billion HumeLink transmission line, key to the giant Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project and the country’s Integrated System Plan, is finally open to connection applications for new wind, solar and battery projects.

The transmission line will connect Wagga Wagga (where it will link in with the new Project EnergyConnect line from South Australia, to Bannaby, just south of Sydney. It includes a major detour to the Snowy Mountains where it will provide capacity for the much maligned Snowy 2.0 project to connect with the rest of the grid.

Transmission company Transgrid says in a statement it will unlock an extra 3,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity into the grid, but most of that will be taken up by the now 2,200 MW rated Snowy 2.0.

It is therefore likely to attract a lot more applications than it can support, given the sheer number of projects that have or are securing development approvals along the way, including the Bookham, Bondo and Yass Valley wind farms.

However, there will also be several huge battery projects at either end of the line, and along the route, plus a number of solar proposals. The big batteries may propose acting as “virtual transmission”, effectively acting as giant shock absorbers to allow more megawatts to be transported at any one time.

Transgrid says it can open the 500 kV transmission line now that it has achieved what is known as “considered project” status, which allows official connection enquiries to be formally lodged.

“HumeLink is a once in a generation investment in Australia’s energy capability, increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be delivered to the National Electricity Market, and helping move towards a net zero future,” said Transgrid acting head of network Jason Krstanoski.

“Once the project is connected to the network, it will unlock the Snowy Hydro Scheme expansion project, Snowy 2.0, which will provide an additional 2,200 megawatts of on-demand energy into the grid.

“HumeLink will also allow more solar and wind generators, and battery and pumped-hydro energy storage facilities to connect directly to the NSW transmission network, enabling a more reliable and sustainable national electricity grid.”

The 365km HumeLink line was originally expected to cost around $1 billion, and was then reassessed to cost $3.2 billion.

The Australian Energy Market Operator recently admitted that transmission costs had increased by at least 50 per cent, and flagged a rethink about its overall transmission plan, although projects such as HumeLink are considered committed and so not subject to change.

Like just about every other major transmission project in the country has suffered from a blowout in costs. HumeLink has also been criticised, like other transmission projects, over the claims of its potential benefits, which are put at more than $1 billion.

And HumeLink, like some other transmission lines, particularly those feeding into Victoria such as VNI West, have also met resistance from local landowners, forcing several changes and ultimately compulsory access in some circumstances.

The work will include new or upgraded infrastructure at four substation locations. Construction begins in 2025 and should be complete by 2027.

Developers have to pay a $50,000 fee to make a connection enquiry, and a further $70,000 if it looks like the cost to connect will total more than $10 million.

“We are working hard to better support our current and future customers to make the connection process as seamless as possible including offering industry briefings and free pre-connection engagements to assist proponents in their planning and help fast-track the process,” Krstanoski said.

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