EnergyConnect provides key to modern power system
Connecting South Australia, NSW and Victorian grids
EnergyConnect is essential grid infrastructure that unlocks renewable energy projects across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, providing grid security and accelerating the decarbonisation of the National Electricity Market.
$295m
CEFC finance
~900km
completed
Integrating
renewable energy
EnergyConnect will benefit consumers by enabling access to lower-cost sources of energy like solar and wind, also known as wholesale energy, which is the largest component of household bills. The project will also help achieve Australia’s climate change targets as we replace coal-fired power with renewable energyBrett RedmanCEO, Transgrid Group
Our investment
The CEFC committed up to $295 million in capital in 2021, to play an instrumental role in developing EnergyConnect – a vital piece of grid infrastructure connecting the energy grids of NSW and SA, with an additional link to north-west Victoria.
Transgrid and its delivery partner Elecnor Australia have completed construction of the 700km NSW section of the essential interconnector, with more than 1,500 towers and over 10,000km of high-voltage conductor.
The 200 kilometre stretch of EnergyConnect in South Australia between Robertstown and the NSW/SA border, was completed by ElectraNet in December 2023.1
The EnergyConnect route passes through renewable energy zones in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria and will enable future generators in these areas to connect and supply renewable energy to the network.
our impact
Unlocking renewable generation in three states
The Australian Energy Market Operator forecasts that EnergyConnect will unlock as much as 1,800 MW of renewable energy generation across Renewable Energy Zones, including approximately 800 MW in SA, 400 MW in NSW and 600 MW in Victoria.
Creating a second point of connection between SA and the NEM, EnergyConnect significantly reduces the risk of the SA grid being 'islanded' or disconnected from the NEM.
Creating employment and customer savings
EnergyConnect delivered significant benefits to regional NSW during construction, creating 1,5000 jobs, investing $300 million in supply contracts with local businesses, providing education and training opportunities and funding community projects and partnerships.
It is estimated that EnergyConnect will deliver net savings for typical household bills of up to $15 per year in NSW, $45 in Victoria, and $65 in South Australia up to 2050. On average, the generation component of a typical household energy bill is estimated to decrease by up to $30 per year in NSW, $45 in Victoria, and $75 in South Australia as a result of EnergyConnect.2
Industry recognition for sustainability measures
EnergyConnect is the first electricity transmission project in Australia to receive the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Design Rating of “Leading” which recognised the sustainability measures undertaken.3
These include:
- Reduced clearing to preserve biodiversity
- Using guyed towers that require 25 per cent less steel and 15 per cent less concrete to construct than conventional structures
- Installing nest boxes to replace tree hollows.
- A 31 per cent reduction in construction water using non-water based dust suppression alternatives and grey water.
- Replacing 78 per cent of potable water with non-potable sources
- Recycling wooden pallets, cans and bottles from worker accommodation camps to reduce waste to landfill
- The Legacy 100 program to train Australia’s own transmission line construction workforce
- A scholarship fund for Charles Sturt University engineering students.
2 ACIL Allen Project EnergyConnect updated analysis April 2023
