Project EnergyConnect is a proposed new 900-kilometre electricity interconnector (transmission line), which will run from Wagga Wagga in NSW to Robertstown in SA, with a connection to Red Cliffs in Victoria.
The SA Section (Stage One) – being delivered by ElectraNet – includes approximately 206 kilometres of transmission infrastructure in SA and will release 150 MW transfer capacity and run from Robertstown in SA to Buronga in NSW.
The full scope includes:
- a new 330/275-kilovolt (kV) substation in Bundey
- a new 330-kV double-circuit transmission line from the new Bundey Substation to the SA/NSW border
- a new 275-kV double-circuit transmission line from the Bundey Substation to the existing Robertstown Substation
- dismantling sections of the existing 132-kV Robertstown to Waterloo transmission line
- the augmentation of Robertstown Substation to facilitate the new connection to the Bundey Substation
- the augmentation of Tungkillo Substation to provide the interconnector with additional connections, and
- extension of the Microwave Radio Network to NSW.
Key Dates
| Oct 2021 | Contract Awarded: SA Section |
| Feb 2022 | Construction Commencement: SA Section |
| Dec 2023 | Construction Completion: SA Section |
| Sep 2026 | Expected Construction Completion: NSW Section |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| SA Government | |
|
$100 million in joint underwriting support from the Federal and SA Governments will be provided for early works on a 50/50 basis. |
|
Financing
| Debt Finance: | SA Government |
|
The SA Government has announced a combined $275 million in underwriting to ElectraNet for the South Australian section of the project. The CEFC's contribution will finance the NSW and Victorian sections of the project. |
|
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Procurement will be undertaken by ElectraNet in New South Wales |
| Shortlist: | ElectraNet shortlisted six participants and issued a Request for Proposals. |
| Successful Tenderer: | Downer |
| Procurement note: | Hyosong has been selected to supply five Phase Shifting Transformers for the project. |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Oct 2017 | The SA Government first announced its support for the interconnector project in a pre-election energy policy statement. |
| Jul 2018 | South Australia’s transmission network service provider, ElectraNet, conducted a project assessment for the proposed interconnector. The preferred route between Robertstown, SA and Wagga Wagga, NSW was identified. |
| Aug 2018 | The SA Government announced further funding support for the project, with a $14 million package to accelerate early works on construction. The NSW and SA Governments signed a MOU establishing a framework for co-operation to deliver the project. |
| Jun 2019 | The SA Government granted the Interconnector Major Project Status, recognising the economic significance of the interconnector to South Australia. |
| Apr 2021 | As part of the $1.08 billion State Energy and Emissions Reduction Deal, the Federal and SA Governments announced up to $100 million in joint underwriting for early works on the South Australian section of the project. |
| Jun 2021 | ElectraNet confirmed it will invest $457 million to deliver the South Australian section of the $2.3 billion Project EnergyConnect from Robertstown to the New South Wales border. |
| Feb 2022 | The SA Government announced that construction had commenced on the SA section of the project. |
| Dec 2023 | Electranet announces that the SA section of the project is complete. |
