NEM's 'vital link' secures high-voltage tech

Hitachi Australia Ltd

Thursday, 30 January, 2025

NEM's 'vital link' secures high-voltage tech

Hitachi Energy has been selected to provide high-voltage technology for one of NSW’s largest energy infrastructure projects: Transgrid’s HumeLink.

The HumeLink project is being built to increase the amount of renewable energy that can be delivered across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Hitachi Energy will deliver and install high-voltage circuit breakers for the new 500 kV, 365 km transmission line connecting Wagga Wagga, Bannaby and Maragle. This will involve partnering with two contractors, HumeLink West JV (UGL and CPB Contractors) and HumeLink East JV (Acciona and Genus), to supply substation equipment for HumeLink West and East respectively.

“The nation-critical HumeLink project is a vital link in the National Electricity Market which will reinforce the grid and enable the sharing of cleaner and cheaper renewable energy,” said Jeremy Roberts, Transgrid HumeLink Project Director.

“The project will create up to 1800 jobs and generate more than $1 billion in market benefits.

“We are pleased to see another project milestone, with our delivery partners securing their supply chain for circuit breakers for one new substation and the extension of three existing substations for HumeLink.”

Bernard Norton, Country Managing Director of Hitachi Energy in Australia, added: “As the energy transition in Australia is gathering pace, HumeLink is one of the major transmission projects that is needed to build a reliable, resilient and future-ready grid, which will support a sustainable energy future.

“We are pleased to supply our leading high-voltage technology and partner with UGL–CPB Contractors and Acciona–Genus for Transgrid’s vital project which will enable the delivery of additional clean energy to Australian consumers.”

Hitachi Energy is also supplying Transgrid with 15 shunt reactors for the HumeLink and VNI West projects. By stabilising voltage during load variations, these reactors increase the efficiency of power systems.

Eventually, it is anticipated that HumeLink will unlock the full capacity of the expanded Snowy Hydro Scheme and enable greater sharing of energy across the eastern states.

Image credit: iStock.com/Chris Manning

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