With the rising energy demands throughout Australia in cities like Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle, additional electricity transmission networks are needed to accommodate the growing need for power. TransGrid, the state-owned company that is responsible for the operation of high voltage electricity transmission between power stations and electricity supplies, needed to fulfill a larger system for ACTEWAGL in New South Wales (NSW) to deliver more power to those cities. With this in mind, TransGrid initiated a project deal with UGL Limited to construct the larger substations and was named the Western 500kV Development Project.
Given that the NSW transmission system serves the largest state in the market, their system provides 12,656 kilometers of high voltage (HV) transmission lines and underground cables with 91 substations to deliver electricity to homes, businesses and factories from various power generation processes. The demand for a greater transmission network stemmed to become the largest power infrastructure project ever conducted in Australia.
The UGL Solution
TransGrid wanted the project focused on the western section of the core NSW transmission network at 500kV as opposed to 330kV to benefit from the greater capacity of all the transmission lines that contribute to the Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle load centers. UGL's team of electrical engineers, construction managers, project design managers and others developed an economical plan of action to deliver four substations under budget and on schedule. The substation work included:
Given that the NSW transmission system serves the largest state in the market, their system provides 12,656 kilometers of high voltage (HV) transmission lines and underground cables with 91 substations to deliver electricity to homes, businesses and factories from various power generation processes. The demand for a greater transmission network stemmed to become the largest power infrastructure project ever conducted in Australia.
The UGL Solution
TransGrid wanted the project focused on the western section of the core NSW transmission network at 500kV as opposed to 330kV to benefit from the greater capacity of all the transmission lines that contribute to the Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle load centers. UGL's team of electrical engineers, construction managers, project design managers and others developed an economical plan of action to deliver four substations under budget and on schedule. The substation work included:
- Updates & enhancements of 330kV equipment at Wallerawang 330kV switching station
- Construction of two 500kV switch-yards at Mt. Piper & Bayswater
- Two new 500/330kV substations constructed at Wollar & Bannaby