Australia’s largest transmission project is surging forward in NSW, with over 70 per cent of the eastern alignment of EnergyConnect now complete.
More than 1,600 workers are advancing construction of 540 kilometres of high-voltage line from Buronga to Wagga Wagga.
The $1.8 billion project’s eastern section – delivered by Transgrid and Elecnor Australia – features the construction of a 330kV line from Buronga to Dinawan and a 500kV line from Dinawan to Wagga Wagga.
It forms part of the 700km NSW leg of the broader 900km interconnector linking NSW, South Australia and Victoria.
Key progress on the eastern alignment includes the completion of all 1,150 tower foundations using 53,000 cubic metres of concrete, and the erection of 1,002 steel towers, among them Australia’s first 500kV Danubio towers.
A total of 278 kilometres of high-voltage conductor cabling has been strung, while two 200-tonne synchronous condensers have been delivered to the Dinawan substation.
The expansion of the Wagga Wagga substation is also complete, marking a major milestone in the project’s grid readiness.
At Dinawan, construction of the substation is underway with major foundation works done and European-manufactured electrical plant arriving. The substation will feature synchronous condensers to enhance grid stability amid rising renewable energy flows.
“The completion of the major extension and upgrade works at the Wagga Wagga substation, the ongoing progress at Dinawan, and the significant advances in transmission line construction along the eastern alignment are the result of a collaborative effort between Elecnor, Transgrid and our delivery partners,” said Elecnor Australia Project Director Felipe Delgado.
The recently completed Wagga Wagga substation upgrade includes 9,500m³ of imported fill, 83 concrete piles, 272 foundations, 13 new gantries and over 6,000 hours of testing across civil, mechanical and electrical systems.
Across the corridor, Elecnor and Transgrid report $255 million has been invested in contracts with 325 local and First Nations businesses.
According to Transgrid, over $94 million of this has supported firms in the Riverina, Murray and Sunraysia regions.
Six purpose-built camps currently accommodate hundreds of workers near key worksites including Booroorban, Bundure, Lockhart and Balranald.
EnergyConnect’s western section from Buronga to the SA border was completed and energised earlier this year. Once fully operational, the interconnector will support 4,950MW of renewable generation and supply up to 8.5 per cent of NSW’s average daily peak demand.