ENERGYCONNECT SUBSTATION COMPLETES FIRST CONCRETE POUR

Transgrid has reached a major milestone in the construction of one of the biggest substations in the Southern Hemisphere, part of its massive $1.8 billion EnergyConnect interconnector project.

Crews have been working around the clock to lay the concrete foundations for some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated heavy duty electrical equipment at Buronga, near Mildura. The Buronga Substation will act as the main hub for the connection between New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The night sky at Buronga was lit up as subcontractors Nathan Contractors and Mawsons Concrete & Quarries poured 850m³ of concrete during a complex eleven hour operation.

The team effort saw 15 concrete trucks loaded at Mawsons’ plants at Buronga and Mildura, with about 50 workers involved in the pour for the foundations for two synchronous condensers which will sit at the heart of the new 16ha Buronga substation.

Transgrid Project Director, Stephen Troughton, said, “We are getting on with the job of building the critical EnergyConnect interconnector which will integrate renewables into the grid and allow energy sharing between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia for the first time.

“The Buronga substation will be one of the largest and most sophisticated in the Southern Hemisphere and act as the main hub for the connection between the three states.

“The EnergyConnect project is providing a major boost to businesses and jobs in communities along the 700km project alignment with more than $18 million spent on local suppliers to date including Mawsons Concrete & Quarries and the Garraway Group at Mildura.”

Mawsons Western Operations Manager Concrete, Gary Harvey, said the amount of concrete involved was the equivalent of 120 truckloads.

“It is a real feather in our cap to be involved in such a big project as EnergyConnect and it is a very proud moment for us,” Mr Harvey said.

“We had to supply concrete at a certain temperature which was under 23 degrees, and with the number of trucks involved, it was always going to be a night pour.”

Based in New South Wales and Queensland, Nathan Contractors measured the amount of concrete required and managed the pour for SecureEnergy, supplying 16 concreters, some of whom were local.

Nathan Contractors Site Supervisor, Matt Jobson, said it was a time-consuming deep pour that went well.

An additional 850m³ of concrete was scheduled to be poured at the end of April 2023 to complete the foundations for the synchronous condensers.

The two 120MVA synchronous condensers are used for system stability and circuit strength to the grid, playing a key role in moving Australia to cleaner renewable energy.

Mawsons is also supplying concrete for the footings to support towers currently being erected at Buronga, providing a further boost to the local business.

The Buronga substation on Arumpo Road will comprise complex equipment including the two synchronous condensers, five phase shifting transformers, three power transformers and four shunt reactors.

In the beginning of 2023, crews at the Buronga substation also carried out foundation works for the transformers that accompany the synchronous condensers, and the first of the five phase shifting transformers.

The first phase shifting transformer will shortly arrive in Australia from South Korea. The specialised type of transformer controls the flow of active power on transmission networks.

The Buronga site also comprises an accommodation camp for 340 workers and a laydown to store equipment and materials.

$1.4M TO VICTORIAN EV-SPECIFIC COURSES

The Victorian Government has invested $1.4 million in a new purpose-built electric vehicle (EV) laboratory at the Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence which will deliver a wide range of EV-specific accredited courses and skills to give those in the automotive industry the chance to upskill.

The new apprenticeship program specialising in EVs will give all Australians the opportunity to train and work in an emerging industry.

This investment, delivered through the $12 million TAFE Equipment and Facilities Fund, will help Victoria achieve its target for EVs to make up 50 per cent of all new light-vehicle sales by 2030.

Victorian Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education, Gayle Tierney, opened the new laboratory at the Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence, located in Docklands, Melbourne.

“This investment will support auto industry workers to become fully trained EV technicians – getting them skilled and ready for the jobs of the future,” Ms Tierney said.

“With more electric vehicles on roads, it’s critical that Victorians have the specialist training they need to service them safely.”

The advanced automotive and electrical lab is home to the latest technology in electronic training boards and simulators, new computers and software programs and sophisticated teaching aids. This equipment can simulate almost all variants of EVs, making it flexible and adaptable to current and future markets.

These facilities will improve the learning opportunities of new students and apprentices as well as upskill existing industry technicians to make sure Victorians thrive as soon as they enter the workforce.

Victorian Minister for Climate Action, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We know EV technology is becoming more popular and accessible – and it’s a vital component in our plan to reach net zero emissions by 2045 – which is why we’re investing in this centre for excellence.”

Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt said, “This investment benefits our whole community –creating more jobs, skills and a more sustainable future.”

The Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s $3.5 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high-quality education and rewarding career pathways.