The New England Transmission Project is a proposed 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between central and northern NSW, connecting the New England REZ. It will have a transfer capacity of three gigawatts.
There are a number of proposed projects for the New England REZ transmission connection. This page relates to the confirmed project corridor known as the New England Transmission Project that is being studied and will run from Baysworth in the south to the New England REZ near Armidale in the north.
The project's proposed scope includes:
- dual 500 kV transmission lines to connect the REZ to the National Electricity Market
- four energy hubs to connect future energy generation and storage projects
- new single 500 kV and 300 kV transmission lines to connect the four hubs to the dual 500 kV transmission lines, and
- ancillary infrastructure, including access tracks and public roads.
The project is expected to be delivered across two stages.
Stage One includes:
- the Central Hub: 500/330 kV substation
- the Central-South and North Hubs: 330 kV switchyard
- the East Hub: 330 kv Switchyard, and
- approximately 340 kilometres of 500 kV transmission line from Bayswater substation to the Central Hub and to connect the Central Hub to the remaining three hubs.
Stage Two includes:
- expanding the Central-South Hub to a 500 kV / 330kV substation
- expanding the North Hub to a 500 kV / 330 kV substation, and
- approximately 220 kilometres of 500 kV transmission line, including an additional line from Bayswater substation to Central-South Hub, and converting the operations from 330 kV to 500kV on the Central Hub to Central-South Hub and North Hub.
Key Dates
| Jul 2020 | Project Announcement |
| Mar 2025 | Expected ROIs Open - Network Operator |
| May 2025 | Expected EOIs Open - Network Operator |
| Oct 2025 | Expected RFP open - Network Operator |
| Jun 2031 | Expected Construction Completion: Stage One |
| Jun 2033 | Expected Construction Completion: Stage Two |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| NSW Government | |
|
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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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | EnergyCo |
| Procurement note: | EnergyCo’s preferred model for the network operator is an ‘enhanced’ regulated concession model where the selected consortium will design, construction, finance, operate and maintain the REZ’s network infrastructure for a specified period. |
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. |
| 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 $1.84 billion ± 50%. |
| 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. The new corridor also includes corridor realignment near Loomberah, Dungowan, Woolomin, and Mulla Creek, as well as realignment between the Central and East hubs. |
| Mar 2024 | EnergyCo opened a Request for Tender for a Road Upgrade advisor, closing on 28 March. |
| Jun 2024 | The 2024 ISP provided an updated cost and timeline for the project. The project has been split into three stages. Stage One has a total estimated cost of $1.8 billion and expected to be completed by June 2031, with Stage Two expected to be completed by June 2033. The total cost of the total project, which includes future stages, is expected to be $3.7 billion (+/- 50 per cent). The ISP also introduces a potential 330 kV transmission line. No expected timelines for Stage Three have been announced |
| Jul 2024 | EnergyCo submitted a Scoping Report for the project to the NSW Government, seeking the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements. The Scoping Report includes a preferred study corridor based on consultation and field investigations since June 2023 and details of the proposed project's scope and delivery stages. |
| Sep 2024 | The NSW Government issued the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements for the project. |
| Dec 2024 | EnergyCo has released details for the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) network operator procurement. EnergyCo’s preferred model for the network operator is an ‘enhanced’ regulated concession model where the selected consortium will design, construction, finance, operate and maintain the REZ’s network infrastructure for a specified period. EnergyCo announced the proposed Network Operator contract procurement timeline, with Registrations of Interest expected to commence in March 2025, EOIs in April/May and RFPs in September/October. |
