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ENERGYCONNECT: MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF A REMOTE ENVIRONMENT
Project EnergyConnect, once approved and constructed, will directly link the energy networks of South Australia and New South Wales for the first time.
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he largest electricity interconnector project to date in Australia, EnergyConnect is a cornerstone of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) 2020 Integrated System Plan (ISP). The ISP is a roadmap to ensure Australia has a resilient and secure grid to accommodate future renewable energy, and promote a decarbonised future. The project has passed a cost-benefit analysis, overseen by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and is progressing through the final phase of a rigorous approval process. The challenges of delivering EnergyConnect are being assessed, including the transmission route, the construction of transmission lines and substation requirements. EnergyConnect will enable the renewable wind and solar energy generated in South Australia to flow into the New South Wales grid, helping stabilise prices in the National Energy Market (NEM).
ENERGYCONNECT TIMELINE Phase
Status
Timing
Preliminary investigations and project scoping
Completed
Regulatory Approval received in July 2021
Community and landowner consultation
In progress
From 2018
Project approvals
In progress
From early 2020 – mid 2022
Detailed Design and Site Early Works
In progress
Early 2021 – mid 2022
Construction
Proposed
From 2022 (NSW Western section)
Project commissioning
Proposed
By 2024
THE CHALLENGES OF DISTANCE Transgrid will build the New South Wales section of EnergyConnect, ElectraNet will deliver the South Australian component and Secure Energy has been appointed as the primary contractor.
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UTILITY • FEBRUARY 2022
Transgrid will construct a 674km transmission line from the South Australian – New South Wales border to Wagga Wagga, linking two existing substations and one new substation. This isolation, combined with the project’s required 50-year life span, requires that infrastructure choices assure iron-clad network reliability and security. Yousseph Ters, Transgrid Project Integration Manager, said, “The stability of the network is vital, with outages requiring quick remediation, which will be a challenge given the remoteness of the transmission and substation infrastructure.”
INNOVATION VS TRIED AND TESTED TECHNOLOGY Transgrid’s delivery of EnergyConnect includes an estimated 1,900 new transmission towers, linking the three substations to South Australia. “We need to demonstrate the value that EnergyConnect will provide, balancing the concerns of landholders and affected communities with environmental, heritage and economic constraints,” Mr Ters said. “Our Network Planning team works closely with team EnergyConnect to choose technical solutions that blend innovative transmission tower technology, with tried and tested substation installations familiar to transmission infrastructure across Australia.” TRANSMISSION TOWERS TO SUIT THE TERRAIN EnergyConnect is using innovative guyed tower technology, consisting of a single mast with guyed wires that spread out diagonally, providing the support required for the tower. Guyed towers are used extensively in the US, South America, Africa and Europe in locations where the topography is flat. Australia’s grid is often in hilly and rocky areas, so this will be the first use of double circuit guyed towers in
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