The transmission project aims to support the delivery of the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the New South Wales New England region.
It is made up of three separate projects to increase the transfer capability between central and northern New South Wales, enable more transfer capacity out of the Queensland New South Wales Interconnector, and expand the New England REZ. These include the New England REZ Transmission Link, the New England REZ Extension, and augmentations.
The original scope of the project listed in the 2022 Integrated Systems Plan did not include the New England REZ Extension and augmentations. This is now in the scope of the project as per the Draft 2024 ISP.
The expected in service timing of December 2028 applies to the New England Transmission Link only. This does not include the New England REZ Extension.
The details of the scope of this project is subject to ongoing consultation with EnergyCo.
Key Dates
| Jul 2020 | Project Announcement |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| NSW Government | |
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The Federal Government's contribution comes through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to TransGrid to support a $3.45 million feasibility study into the potential development of new transmission capacity. |
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PROJECT HISTORY
| Jul 2020 | In its 2020 Integrated System Plan, AEMO identified New England REZ network expansion as a critical project and provided updated costings for Stages One and Two of the transmission component. Stage One of the transmission component has an estimated cost of between $720 million and $1.3 billion, with a modelled cost of $1.025 billion. Stage Two of the transmission component has an estimated cost of between $220 million and $420 million, with a modelled cost of $320 million. |
| Jun 2022 | The 2022 ISP listed the New England REZ Transmission Link as an 'actionable' project as part of the NSW Framework. The New England REZ Extension was listed as a 'Future ISP' project and at this time was not included in the scope of the New England REZ Transmission Link Project. |
| Oct 2023 | APA Group and EDF Group announce they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bid on the project. |
| Dec 2023 | The project is listed as 'actionable' in the Draft 2024 Integrated Systems Plan. The full capacity timing as advised by the proponent was listed as September 2028 and cost estimates are listed as $3.69 billion ± 50%. The original scope of the project did not include the New England REZ Extension and augmentations. This is now in the scope of the project as per the Draft 2024 ISP. |
| Mar 2024 | EnergyCo updated its study corridor for the New England REZ transmission project. The original study corridor included a south hub and was 39 kilometres longer than the revised corridor, being 480 kilometres in total. The new corridor also includes corridor realignment near Loomberah, Dungowan, Woolomin, and Mulla Creek, as well as realignment between the Central and East hubs. |
