Transmission operator AusNet has started construction on the Mortlake Turn-In project, which will unlock 1.5GW of renewable energy generation and provide a “critical boost” to wind farms in the southwest of Victoria state in Australia.
The transmission project delivers several benefits “including addressing network constraints, creating jobs, and providing new renewable generation development opportunities in the longer term”, said David Smales, chief executive of AusNet.
There are currently two 500kV transmission lines running past the Mortlake terminal station, but only one connects to it. The project will connect the second 500kV line to the terminal station, Smales said, which will allow a more balanced sharing of power between the two parallel circuits and make the network more stable.
The project is part of the Victorian government’s renewable energy zone development plan, which includes Australia’s first offshore wind farm zone.
Located 50 kilometres northeast of Warrnambool, the project is due for completion in 2025.
The Victorian government has targeted 25GW of new renewable energy and storage capacity by 2035.
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