Work begins on major EnergyConnect substation near Mildura
Crews are working around the clock to build the foundations for some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated heavy duty electrical equipment at Buronga, NSW.
Transgrid and its construction partner SecureEnergy are building the 700km NSW section of the $1.8 billion EnergyConnect project from Wagga Wagga to the South Australian border, with a connection to Red Cliffs in Victoria.
The critical EnergyConnect interconnector will integrate renewables into the grid and allow energy sharing between NSW, Victoria and South Australia for the first time.
“The Buronga substation will be one of the largest and most sophisticated in the Southern Hemisphere and act as the main hub for the connection between the three states," said Transgrid Project Director Stephen Troughton.
“The EnergyConnect project is providing a major boost to businesses and jobs in communities along the 700km project alignment with more than $18 million spent on local suppliers to date.”
An additional 850 cubic metres of concrete is scheduled to be poured this week to complete the foundations for the synchronous condensers.
The two 120 MVA synchronous condensers are used for system stability and circuit strength to the grid, playing a key role in moving Australia to cleaner renewable energy.
The Buronga substation on Arumpo Road will comprise complex equipment including the two synchronous condensers, five phase shifting transformers, three power transformers and four shunt reactors.
This month crews at the Buronga substation have also carried out foundation works for the transformers that accompany the synchronous condensers, and the first of the five phase shifting transformers.
The first phase shifting transformer will shortly arrive in Australia from South Korea. The specialised type of transformer controls the flow of active power on transmission networks.
The Buronga site also comprises an accommodation camp for 340 workers and a laydown to store equipment and materials.
