National transmission project EnergyConnect begins energisation process

The 16ha Buronga substation in south-western NSW is the main hub for the 900km EnergyConnect project which will connect NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. 

The first 220kV section of the new substation has been connected to the existing Buronga substation, which will allow power to flow across the new backbone of EnergyConnect.

A new double-circuit 330kV transmission line stretching 135km from Buronga to the South Australian border has been constructed and is ready to be connected to South Australia for testing.

Transgrid CEO Brett Redman said: “This is another significant step forward for energy consumers and for the broader electricity grid. 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.

“EnergyConnect will allow us to move renewable energy between NSW, South Australia, and Victoria to where and when it is needed, which will help make our energy system more secure. I recently visited the Buronga substation to see first-hand the substantial progress we are making in delivering this world-class infrastructure which will be the main connection hub between the three states.

“Connecting the substation is a key part of the safe testing and commissioning process and releases us to proceed to the next phase of the project leading up to being Ready for Inter-Network Testing.

“We would like to thank the broader EnergyConnect, Transgrid and Elecnor teams for the thousands of hours of hard work that have gone into this moment, and everyone involved should be very proud of this achievement.”

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. 

This equipment will keep the electricity grid stable and allow renewable energy to be transferred between states which will help provide cost of living relief by delivering access to cheaper clean energy.

Connecting the substation releases the ‘Test for Energisation’ phase of the project, including the synchronous condensers. When that is completed, it will be ready for inter-network testing, which will be carried out by AEMO when market conditions allow.

Felipe Delgado, Elecnor Australia Project Director, the builders of EnergyConnect, said: “We have successfully completed the first stage of connection thanks to the exceptional work by our team doing this very complex work in a safe and controlled way.

“This process required extraordinary technical expertise and collaboration involving key civil, electrical, construction, commissioning, and overhead transmission line specialists. These teams have worked on each piece of high-voltage equipment across the site to prepare for the transition to energy production.

“Our successes using innovative equipment and phasing technologies, including phase-shifting transformers to control flows between states, combined with shunt reactors and synchronous condensers to ensure system security, will benefit future projects here in Australia and serve as a benchmark for others around the world.”

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

Transgrid said the project is on track to commence inter-network testing of the new interconnector in the September quarter of 2024.

As work nears completion on EnergyConnect’s western section, construction is ramping up in the east with more than 1,000 people now working on the 540km leg from Wagga Wagga to Buronga.

A new 460-worker accommodation camp has opened at Bundure, near Coleambally in the Riverina, with construction of another 250-bed camp now underway on the Cobb Highway near Hay.

Crews have drilled and poured concrete foundations for 505 tower sites, assembled 185 towers, and erected 90 towers on the two lines between Wagga Wagga and Buronga.

Construction is also underway on a world-class 330kV Dinawan substation at Bundure, with 225,000 tonnes of fill and gravel imported to site and work progressing on synchronous condenser foundations.

When completed the substation will enable better power flows between NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, and support development of new electricity generation in renewable energy zones.

Transgrid media contact: Mark Nolan 0429 047 136