The first section of Buronga substation in south-western New South Wales has been announced to connect with South Australia.

EnergyConnect, Australia’s 900km power transmission project, has announced the connection of the first section of its new Buronga substation, located in south-western New South Wales, to South Australia.

The 16-hectare Buronga substation in south-western New South Wales is the main hub of the project linking NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The first 220 kV section of the new substation has been connected to the existing Buronga substation.

A new 135km, 330kV double-circuit transmission line has been constructed from Buronga to the South Australian border and will be connected to South Australia for testing.

The Buronga substation includes five phase transformers, two synchronous capacitors and four shunt reactors. This equipment will maintain grid stability and enable the transfer of renewable energy between states, helping to provide access to cheaper, clean energy.

The commissioning phase of the project, including the synchronous capacitors, has commenced and will be ready for cross-grid testing by AEMO as soon as market conditions allow.

The next phases of work will include energising 330kV equipment at the switchyard and testing new lines to South Australia and Victoria. The project is on schedule to commence cross-network testing of the new interconnector in September 2024.

Construction is underway in the east, with more than 1000 people working on the 540km section from Wagga Wagga to Buronga. A 460-worker housing camp has opened at Bundure, near Coleambally in the Riverina, and construction of another 250-bed camp is underway on the Cobb Highway near Hay.

Crews drilled and poured concrete foundations for 505 towers, assembled 185 towers and erected 90 towers on two lines between Wagga Wagga and Buronga.

Construction is also underway at the Dinawan 330kV substation in Bundure, with 225,000 tonnes of fill and gravel brought to site and work progressing on the synchronous capacitor foundations. The substation will enable power flows between NSW, Victoria and South Australia and support the development of new electricity generation in renewable energy zones once completed.