EnergyConnect

EnergyConnect is a new energy infrastructure project that will enable greater sharing of electricity between NSW, Victoria and South Australia for the first time. It will also create 1500 jobs, primarily across regional NSW.

The project is a key element of the Australian Energy Market Operator's Integrated System Plan. As a result, the NSW Government has declared it Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI).

EnergyConnect includes a new 900km electricity transmission line, known as an interconnector, that will connect the three state power grids, driving competition in the wholesale electricity market.

The interconnector is being built between Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and Robertstown in South Australia, with a connection to Red Cliffs in Victoria.

Transgrid is partnering with ElectraNet to deliver EnergyConnect, with Transgrid building the NSW section.

Project benefits

• New jobs and opportunities: EnergyConnect will create 1500 new jobs and opportunities for a wide range of businesses.
• Economic growth: The project will generate $4 billion in economic benefit - much of it in regional NSW.
• A cleaner future: EnergyConnect will support the Federal Government's clean energy future vision by connecting more solar and wind generation to help reduce carbon emissions.

Why is the project needed?

The Australian energy landscape is transitioning to a greater mix of low-emission renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Several factors are driving this transition, including:

• access to new generation sources as coal-fired plants close
• government commitments to reduce carbon emissions
• the potential for increased competition in renewable generation 
• demand for a more reliable energy supply.

At the same time, consumers are demanding lower power bills and more secure and reliable service.

EnergyConnect will deliver the infrastructure required to support this evolution by connecting the energy grids of NSW, SA and Victoria. These connections will expand the wholesale electricity market across the three states, meaning increased reliability and security of electricity supply.

Operating at total capacity, EnergyConnect will be capable of supplying 8.5 per cent of the total average maximum daily demand in NSW.

Legacy 100 is the nation’s first multi-million-dollar training initiative to boost skills in the power transmission sector that will result in up to 100 candidates completing qualifications in Transmission Line Construction as part of the EnergyConnect project.

Transgrid and its construction partner SecureEnergy have launched this training initiative to boost skills in the power transmission sector across regional NSW. 

The comprehensive program will form the backbone of the future workforce in the transmission tower construction industry, with workers to use the skills gained on EnergyConnect to build other future transmission line projects.

It will help the Australian energy sector to grow its own riggers and doggers, boosting jobs and skills in regional NSW, and reducing reliance on overseas trained workers.

We are now seeking 100 candidates to join the program and take their careers to new heights.

Prospective candidates should hold a current white card, have a passion for working at heights, and an ability to work away from home and live in a worker accommodation camp for 21 days at a time.

Visit Secure Energy's Legacy 100 page to express your interest.

Work on the eastern section of the project between Wagga Wagga and Buronga will be commencing soon, following the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s approval of the final Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for the project.

The eastern section comprises 540km of new transmission line infrastructure between Wagga Wagga and Buronga, construction of a new substation at Dinawan in Bundure and an upgrade of the existing substation at Wagga Wagga.

The CEMP describes how activities undertaken during construction will be managed to avoid or mitigate environmental impacts. The full document is available here - PEC Eastern CEMP S1 Rev 0

The following construction activities, delivered by our construction partner SecureEnergy, will be undertaken in the coming months:

*timings are indicative and subject to change

To access the full notification on the SecureEnergy website, please go to: EnergyConnect - SecureEnergy (secureenergyjv.com.au). You can also contact the project team by phone 1800 49 06 66 or email community@secureenergyjv.com.au

NSW Eastern-Section

The NSW-Eastern Section of the project comprises around 540km of new transmission line infrastructure and supporting substation construction and upgrades between Wagga Wagga and Buronga.

In September 2022 the NSW Government approved the NSW-Eastern Section following a thorough review of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In December 2022 the Commonwealth Government approved the NSW-Eastern Section following assessment by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 

NSW Western-Section

The NSW Government approved the EnergyConnect NSW–Western Section in September 2021.

Construction activity has commenced at various locations across the western project area.

The NSW-Western Section includes works between the NSW/SA border, Transgrid’s existing substation at Buronga, and the NSW/Victorian border near Monak.

In September 2021 we held three online Community Information Sessions to share project information and answer your questions.

This video is an edited version of the webinar on 14 September 2021 and shows the presentation that was consistent at all three sessions. We are making this session available online for anyone who could not attend a webinar, and to demonstrate our commitment to open and transparent engagement.

The questions and answers summary report provides the questions asked and the answers given during all three sessions. The report also includes links to helpful information related to EnergyConnect.

As part of the regulatory approval process, Transgrid was required to demonstrate EnergyConnect’s benefits to consumers using a three-part market benefits test. This Regulatory Investment Test – Transmission (RIT-T) is the public economic cost benefit test administered by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on all projects of more than $6 million.

Through the EnergyConnect RIT-T process, all network and non-network solution options from a technical and economic perspective were assessed by:

• informing stakeholders of investment needs and proposed options
• testing the market for alternative and more efficient solutions
• explaining to stakeholders the basis on which the preferred option was selected.

The AER approved the RIT-T in January 2020 and the rigorous assessment of the forecast project costs has helped to ensure consumers pay no more than is needed to build the new interconnector.

Subsequent to the RIT-T, a Contingent Project Application (CPA), or funding application, was submitted to the AER. The CPA is a thorough assessment of the proposed project costs to ensure they are prudent and efficient. The AER invited submissions from energy consumers and other interested parties.

The AER approved Transgrid’s final CPA in May 2021.

The NSW Minister for Planning declared the NSW section of EnergyConnect as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) in August 2019.

Under the NSW Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), all CSSI applications are required to go through a comprehensive assessment process with extensive community involvement. This assessment process is detailed on the NSW Planning Portal.

The NSW section of EnergyConnect was assessed in two sections, with the current status and relevant documentation including Scoping Reports and Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) available online:

• NSW-Western Section from the SA/NSW border to Buronga through to the NSW/VIC border
• NSW-Eastern Section from Buronga to Wagga Wagga

The NSW Government approved both the NSW-Western Section and NSW-Eastern Section of EnergyConnect following a thorough review of the project Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

The project was determined as a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) and was assessed under the bilateral agreement between the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.

The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment approved the NSW-Western Section of EnergyConnect under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in 2021, following NSW Government approvals.

In September 2022, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, under delegation from the Minister for Planning and Homes, granted approval for the EnergyConnect NSW-Eastern Section. 

The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water then assessed the EnergyConnect NSW-Eastern Section under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), with the Minister for the Environment and Water granting final approval for the Eastern Section of the project in December 2022.

• Toll-free phone number: 1800 49 06 66
• Email: pec@transgrid.com.au

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