Projects | EnergyConnect, New South Wales, Australia

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Transgrid's EnergyConnect is one of Australia’s largest energy transmission projects involving a new, multi-billion dollar, 900 km transmission line to connect the energy grids in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This will help improve reliability and security of electricity supply and allow for future connections from renewable energy sources.

EnergyConnect will be one of Australia’s largest energy interconnectors, providing the critical infrastructure needed to connect large-scale wind, solar and storage developments to the National Electricity Market, enabling the transition to a greater mix of renewables.

Australia’s first 500 kV transmission line built in over 30 years,
a vital link to connect energy across three states.

Designed to move electricity to where it is needed most, the interconnector makes the National Electricity Market more flexible, secure, and resilient. With up to 80% of New South Wales' coal-fired generation expected to retire by 2033, it ensures the system is ready for the rapid growth of renewables and distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar.

On the Dinawan to Wagga Wagga section, Aurecon provided a detailed design for Australia’s first new 500 kV transmission line in over 30 years, including high voltage transmission towers, electrical lines, and substations.

Once operational, it is expected to deliver electricity cost savings for households and businesses, as well as lasting economic benefits to regional communities through job creation and local procurement opportunities.

Location

New South Wales, Australia

Client

Elecnor Australia

Aurecon's Role

Transmission tower design, line electrical design, substation design, structural engineering

Expertise

Power Transmission & Distribution, Power Generation, Energy Transition & Decarbonisation

Status

Ongoing

Delivering an efficient, resilient, and sustainable energy network

Working alongside Elecnor Australia as Transgrid’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, Aurecon is providing detailed design for EnergyConnect’s high voltage transmission towers, electrical lines, and substations. We’ve taken an integrated design, engineering and advisory approach to optimise the interconnector’s efficiency, resilience, and long-term sustainability.

Leveraging our experience delivering major transmission and grid connection projects, Aurecon reduced material use, lowered environmental impacts, and improved construction efficiency through design innovation – including the adoption of Australia’s first European-style Danubio towers.

Using an innovative 500 kV tower design, Aurecon helped reduce material use, lower environmental impact, and improve construction efficiency.

Aurecon's work includes:

Detailed design of the 160 km Dinawan to Wagga Wagga double-circuit transmission line, initially operating at 330 kV and future-proofed for 500 kV capacity, with 500 kV towers
Detailed design for 330 kV substations at Dinawan and Wagga Wagga
Integration with and connection to existing transmission network

The project includes Australia’s first new 500 kV transmission line built in over 30 years. This vital link will help move electricity to where it’s needed most, ease pressure on the network as coal-fired generation retires and provide the backbone for new renewable generation in southern NSW to connect into the grid.

EnergyConnect is a 900 km transmission line connecting the energy grids in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Advanced digital modelling tools, including Aurecon’s RPAT© route-planning assessment tool, enabled data-driven assessments of tower locations and span lengths, helping us optimise the route, minimise the number of structures, and reduce both environmental and social impacts.

Our broader scope includes full-scale destructive testing, while collaborating with environmental and Aboriginal heritage specialists to ensure our work respects local contexts and meets planning requirements. Aurecon is also supporting insulation coordination, conductor and insulator selection, and safety assessments to ensure reliable network performance.

Elecnor Australia introduced the adoption of the Danubio tower into Australia, with Aurecon undertaking the detail design.

Australia-first innovation reduces steel and carbon footprint

These are the first 500 kV towers in Australia for many decades, with many to follow in the declared Renewable Energy Zones in different states of Australia.

Aurecon's design optimisation has significantly reduced the overall tonnage of steel required for the transmission towers. By refining the structural configuration and pushing tower spacing from 420 m to up to 540 m, we have reduced the number of towers required – streamlining construction, lowering embodied carbon, and reducing the footprint on local landowners.

Key benefits of the Danubio tower

Elecnor Australia introduced the adoption of the Danubio tower into Australia, with Aurecon undertaking the detailed design. This marks its first use in Australia with more than 330 Danubio towers to be installed between Dinawan and Wagga Wagga. Benefits include:

64 fewer towers required across the project, minimising installation risks, construction complexity and maintenance
~20% less steel required, reducing materials, costs and environmental impact
More efficient land corridor use, reducing the need for additional access roads and associated works
Stronger than standard 500 kV towers, capable of supporting the heavy quad 500 kV conductor bundles required and innovative cross-arm design to improve efficiency for high-voltage transmission

Future maintenance of the infrastructure was also addressed in the design process. Collaboration with Transgrid and Elecnor Australia ensured a design outcome not only optimised for constructability, but allowed for efficient maintenance of the towers.

The innovative crossarm design of the Danubio towers that are modelled on towers located in Europe is an Australian first. It keeps the tower height to a maximum of 65 metres but also makes the towers more efficient for 500 kV high-voltage transmission.

Verifying tower performance through global testing

Power transmission towers are critical components in the electrical grid, responsible for carrying high-voltage power lines across vast distances. Ensuring their structural integrity, reliability, and longevity is paramount, especially given their exposure to diverse and often harsh environmental conditions.

To ensure the long-term performance and resilience of these critical structures, Aurecon led comprehensive load testing of tower prototypes. These full-scale environmental and durability tests confirmed the structural integrity and reliability of the proposed designs under real-world conditions. The testing confirmed that the tower design works as intended, including how its parts are connected and built, and the quality of the materials and manufacturing.

This rigorous verification process provided certainty in the robustness of the tower design – and confidence that the infrastructure will endure Australia’s diverse climatic extremes over its lifespan.

EnergyConnect is designed for performance, built for resilience, and delivering long-term value for communities and the climate.

Powering economic growth and regional prosperity

EnergyConnect is not only a milestone in Australia's energy transition but also a major driver of economic activity. To date, EnergyConnect has invested $269.7 million with 312 local and First Nations businesses and $480 million with businesses located elsewhere in NSW (as at Dec 2025).

By enabling new renewable energy projects at key connection points, the interconnector will help unlock further industry growth and investment, strengthening regional economies and securing long-term employment in the clean energy sector.

A landmark in Australia’s energy transition, EnergyConnect is connecting power grids across three states, designed for performance, built for resilience, and delivering long-term value for communities and the climate. Through innovative design and global collaboration, Aurecon is proud to help support the energy transition, enabling new renewable generation while improving grid stability and resilience.

Award-winning

The project has won the following award:

Highly Commended: Consult Australia Awards for Excellence 2025-25 – Innovation for Excellence

Australia’s first 500 kV transmission line built in over 30 years,
a vital link to connect energy across three states.

Delivering an efficient, resilient, and sustainable energy network

Australia-first innovation reduces steel and carbon footprint

Key benefits of the Danubio tower

Verifying tower performance through global testing

EnergyConnect is designed for performance, built for resilience, and delivering long-term value for communities and the climate.

Powering economic growth and regional prosperity

Award-winning

TAGS

We would love to work with you to bring your ideas to life, so get in touch and we'll get back to you.

Australia’s first 500 kV transmission line built in over 30 years, a vital link to connect energy across three states.

Delivering an efficient, resilient, and sustainable energy network

Australia-first innovation reduces steel and carbon footprint

Key benefits of the Danubio tower

Verifying tower performance through global testing

EnergyConnect is designed for performance, built for resilience, and delivering long-term value for communities and the climate.

Powering economic growth and regional prosperity

Award-winning

TAGS

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Australia’s first 500 kV transmission line built in over 30 years,
a vital link to connect energy across three states.