2019 Clean Energy Summit highlights the critical role of grid connections to power our renewable energy future

14th August 2019

ElectraNet and TransGrid recently joined a host of industry experts at the 2019 Clean Energy Summit, in Sydney, where a common theme for discussion was the need to build new transmission lines and upgrade existing infrastructure to support the delivery of renewable energy to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Touted by Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) spokesperson Alex Wonhas as the ‘renewables revolution’, energy operators and policy makers called for more investment in grid upgrades to ensure that the system can maximise the opportunities created by renewable energy projects now and into the future (Renew Economy 2019).

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton cited grid connection as the “single greatest challenge” to Australia’s clean energy future and called for the council to work closely with AEMO and network operators to invest in additional grid connections (Clean Energy Council, 2019).

Wonhas singled out the new interconnector between South Australia and New South Wales, Project EnergyConnect, as being part of AEMO’s policy solution to renewable grid connection. (Renew Economy 2019)

Presenting at the Summit, ElectraNet and TransGrid both highlighted the broad benefits that would flow from investment in proposed interconnectors such as Project EnergyConnect, including improving access to renewable energy sources, helping to lower power prices and improve security and reliability particularly in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

You can view the presentations here:

ElectraNet: https://assets.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/documents/events/aces-2019/Presentations/Rainer-Korte.pdf

TransGrid: https://assets.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/documents/events/aces-2019/Presentations/Caroline-Taylor.pdf

Referencing

Renew Economy (2019) ‘Grid queue for new generation totals 96GW, but will house full sign go up soon?’, accessed 30 July 2019, < https://reneweconomy.com.au/grid-queue-for-new-generation-totals-96gw-but-will-house-full-sign-go-up-soon-50693/>

Clean Energy Council (2019) ‘Opening Address to Australian Clean Energy Summit 2019 – Kane Thornton, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive’, accessed 31 July 2019, < https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news/opening-address-to-australian-clean-energy-summit-2019-kane-thornton-clean-energy-council-chief-executive/>