In this video, our Executive General Manager of Networks Marie Jordan shares how industry stakeholders can use information included in the TAPR.

Marie shares her thoughts on the importance of the TAPR, to pause and reflect on the change in our system, and what we need to plan for in the future.

Marie and Kasia, explain what’s new in TAPR 2024 and what our forecasts and modelling mean for the people planning, building and operating our future grid.

Kasia Kulbacka, General Manager Network Planning, shares insight on the urgency of the transmission build.

Marie and Kasia explore the biggest challenge with coal retiring on network stability and systems strength, and the impact of consumers.

Marie highlights the changes happening in control rooms, from the amount of information coming in, to how people are having to make decisions on a daily basis.

Kasia shares the importance of having the tools, capabilities, and capacity to plan the system, reflecting on the changing and dynamic world of today's technology.

Transgrid shares the bold ambition of the NSW and Australian Federal governments to deliver a clean energy future. We are helping to execute one of the world’s most ambitious and rapid clean energy transitions, transforming our electricity system to meet the needs of a decarbonising economy. As this year’s Transmission Planning Annual Report (TAPR) shows, the clock is ticking. Today, coal provides the majority of NSW electricity generation. By 2033, coal will provide less than 20 percent.

The energy transition is a complex undertaking with multiple dependencies. The NSW/ACT electricity system is undergoing a high-velocity clean energy transition. To ensure supply keeps pace with demand and the grid remains secure as coal retires, NSW will need to connect renewable energy to the grid, and integrate it safely, at a significant rate. Retrofitting the grid at pace and in the face of rapidly increasing complexity, while keeping it operating safely, reliably and securely, comes with inherent challenges and risks. Successful delivery requires careful planning and sector-wide collaboration, timely decision-making and effective execution.

This year’s TAPR details Transgrid’s current and planned projects to address emerging constraints and create access for the rising volumes of energy from multiple sources required in our transitioning grid. Australia’s transition to renewable energy requires a new 330/500 kV backbone extending from Victoria in the south, to South Australia in the west, to Queensland in the north. This interconnectivity is essential for the efficient and reliable operation of a decarbonised grid, enabling renewable energy to be transferred from regional generation in different states to the major load centres.

TAPR 2024 shows how Transgrid is using innovative non-network and emerging technology solutions to address identified constraints in the NSW transmission network – looking beyond 'poles and wires' – and to continually improve how we manage the network. Network constraints can compromise energy reliability and increase energy prices. The NSW electricity system is already being constrained by growing maximum demand and shrinking minimum grid demand for electricity, the challenges of renewable integration and the associated system security considerations. Forecasts suggest that new thermal and voltage constraints will appear in additional regions and continue to grow as the energy transition progresses and the grid becomes increasingly complex.

This year’s TAPR forecasts demonstrate the challenges posed by an electrifying economy along with a decarbonising grid and the need for strategic planning to “keep the lights on”. Our TAPR forecasts predict increased annual growth in demand for electricity across NSW over the next decade driven by an expanding population, steady energy prices and increased electrification, underscoring the need to build out transmission infrastructure. As the consumer energy transition continues to gain pace, we expect to see the increasing adoption of new energy technologies, including rooftop solar PV, battery storage, electric vehicles and hydrogen. These changes will occur against the backdrop of cost of living pressures, caused by the inflationary macro environment, and sluggish economic growth (at least in the short term).

TAPR 2024 tracks future system security needs resulting from the forecasted retirement of coal generators and the growth in renewables. Urgent investment in new system security infrastructure and services is required. Under the NER, Transgrid is responsible for ensuring sufficient system security services are available to maintain the stability and security of the NSW electricity system. These system security services include system strength, inertia and voltage control.