With two large projects receiving planning approval and the Waratah Super Battery being designated as Critical State Significant Infrastructure, New South Wales (NSW) is experiencing a boom in energy infrastructure, lowering power costs and stimulating the economy.
In a statement, the NSW Government said the two projects that have received planning approvals are the EnergyConnect, a crucial electric interconnector between NSW, South Australia, and Victoria, and new transmission lines to connect Snowy 2.0 to the grid.
The Waratah Super Battery’s designation as Critical State Significant Infrastructure, according to Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean, recognises the project’s immediate priority.
“The Waratah Super Battery, with a capacity of 700MW, will be the largest standby network battery in the Southern Hemisphere, acting as a giant shock absorber so that transmission capacity currently kept in reserve can be freed up to transfer energy to consumers,” Minister Kean said.
Minister Kean stated that the three projects are vital for NSW’s energy future, with EnergyConnect assisting in establishing the grid’s capacity and getting renewable energy from South-West NSW and South Australia flowing around the State.
“By having these strong connections and batteries in place, more energy will be available to everyone and further improve the grid’s reliability, meaning prices will come down and power bills across the state will be lower,” he added.
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said EnergyConnect’s approval and new Snowy 2.0 transmission lines would help get cheaper renewable energy into the power grid.
“We have approved the NSW section of a new 900-kilometre electric interconnector, to link our grid with South Australia and Victoria, to increase energy security and reliability,” Minister Roberts stated.
He added that up to 500 construction jobs could be created due to the EnergyConnect project, which will install new transmission lines from Wagga Wagga to Buronga, close to the Victorian border.
“We have also approved nine kilometres of transmission lines to connect Snowy 2.0 to the grid, which will enable its electricity to enter the market once it’s up and running, a project that will create a further 140 construction jobs,” Minister Roberts said.
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