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 of 150 MW transfer capacity and runs from Robertson 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 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 | |
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$100 million in joint underwriting support from the Federal and SA Governments will be provided for early works on a 50/50 basis. |
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Financing
| Debt Finance: | SA Government |
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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. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Procurement will be undertaken by ElectraNet in New South Wales |
| Tenderers (EOI/ROI): | ElectraNet issued EOIs to nine shortlisted participants from an open market engagement. |
| 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 construction had commenced on the SA section of the project. |
| Dec 2023 | Electranet announces that the SA section of the project is complete. |
