Hitachi Energy has been selected to provide critical high-voltage technology for Transgrid’s HumeLink project.
HumeLink is a 365km transmission line connecting Wagga Wagga, Bannaby, and Maragle in New South Wales.
It is one of Australia’s largest energy infrastructure projects, designed to enhance the national electricity market by increasing the transmission capacity of renewable energy.
The project is also set to unlock the full potential of the expanded Snowy Hydro Scheme, supporting Australia’s transition to a low-carbon energy future.
Hitachi Energy will supply and install high-voltage circuit breakers for the new 500-kilovolt line, working in partnership with two joint ventures: HumeLink West JV (UGL and CPB Contractors) and HumeLink East JV (Acciona and Genus).
The circuit breakers, designed to protect electrical grids by clearing short-circuit faults in milliseconds, will enhance system reliability and prevent damage to vital equipment.
“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. The project will create up to 1800 jobs and generate more than $1 billion in market benefits,” Jeremy Roberts, Transgrid HumeLink Project Director said.
“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.”
“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,” Bernard Norton, Country Managing Director of Hitachi Energy in Australia said.
“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,” Norton said.
The HumeLink project will enable the sharing of renewable energy across Australia’s eastern states and help stabilise the grid. In addition to circuit breakers, Hitachi Energy will supply 15 shunt reactors for the HumeLink and VNI West projects to optimise voltage stability and improve power system efficiency.
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