Project Update Week ending 6 July 2018 Interconnection with NSW to deliver customer savings 29 June ElectraNet has today released a draft report on its investigation of options to support “South Australia is a national leader in South Australia’s energy transformation. renewable energy and we have an opportunity to further build on this The report identifies that the construction of a reputation. Interconnection with NSW would new, high capacity interconnector between enable South Australia to increase renewable South Australia and New South Wales would energy production and export it into the deliver substantial economic benefits. national market.” Independent modelling by ACIL Allen Mr Masters said based on current estimates, a estimates that annual residential customer new interconnector would cost $1.5 billion bills would reduce by up to about $30 in across both states, and subject to receiving all South Australia and $20 in New South Wales. necessary environmental and development approvals, could be delivered between 2022 ElectraNet Chief Executive, Steve Masters said and 2024. an interconnector with NSW was found to provide the largest net benefits to customers “To deliver the project, ElectraNet would of all the options considered. partner with TransGrid, the manager and operator of the high voltage electricity “Construction of a new 330 kV line between transmission network in NSW. Should the South Australia’s mid-north and Wagga project be approved, TransGrid would fund Wagga in New South Wales, via Buronga, is the works within its jurisdiction. expected to deliver the highest net market benefits by helping to lower electricity prices, “Our work has been closely coordinated with improve system security and support our the Australian Energy Market Operator energy transformation towards a lower (AEMO)’s national planning process that has carbon emissions future,” Mr Masters said. identified increased interconnection from South Australia as one its key national “Net market benefits are estimated to be transmission priorities,” Mr Masters said. around $1 billion over 21 years. In November 2016 ElectraNet began a process “Savings to customers in South Australia could to explore the technical and economic be delivered as soon as the interconnector is feasibility of a new interconnector with the built. This would largely be due to the eastern states, as well as non-network interconnector placing downward pressure on alternatives, through the Regulatory wholesale electricity prices. Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T). Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) The RIT-T is the economic cost benefit test provide clean energy to power approximately that is overseen by the Australian Energy 63,500 Tasmanian homes each year. Regulator (AER) and applies to all major network investments in the National “Entura’s wealth of experience in renewable Electricity Market. energy projects around the world, coupled with its intimate knowledge of Tasmania’s Throughout the RIT-T process ElectraNet will power system, will help ensure the successful continue to consult with a range of delivery of this project,” said John Titchen, stakeholders, including customer Managing Director of Goldwind Australia. representatives, AEMO, government and other interested groups. Electricity network operator TasNetworks is commencing all works required to connect Stakeholders, interest groups and members of the wind farm to the Tasmanian grid. Entura is the public are invited to have their say on the partnering with the principal contractor Zinfra findings of the draft report, with submissions to support TasNetworks’ Waddamana due by 10 August 2018. Submissions can be substation and grid augmentation emailed to [email protected]. requirements. The next step of the RIT-T involves the “We’re pleased to be partnering again with publication of a Project Assessment Goldwind Australia, TasNetworks and Zinfra to Conclusions Report, which ElectraNet help deliver Cattle Hill Wind Farm in our home currently anticipates will be released by state of Tasmania,” said Entura Managing November 2018. The AER will then make a Director Tammy Chu. “The project will make a final ruling on the outcome of the RIT-T positive and enduring contribution to our before the project proceeds. clients and the local community, as well as support the State’s future ambitions.” For a copy of the draft report, more information about the South Australian Entura recently acted as independent advisor Energy Transformation project and to Goldwind Australia during construction of information about public consultation the White Rock Wind Farm in New South click here. Wales, providing engineering design review and site inspections for the balance of plant Source: Electranet contract, which included the main wind farm civil and electrical works. In Tasmania, Entura delivered end-to-end services for a number of Entura named owner’s wind power projects, including Musselroe, Woolnorth and Studland Bay wind farms. engineer for Cattle Hill Wind Farm Entura draws on more than 20 years of experience at the forefront of the industry 2 July developing and delivering wind farms in Specialist power and water consulting firm Australia. Around the world, the firm has been Entura has been appointed by Goldwind involved in more than 100 advanced and Australia as Owner’s Engineers for the Cattle operational wind farms with projects totalling Hill Wind Farm in Tasmania. greater than 20 000 MW in India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, China, the Philippines, New Located on the eastern shore of Lake Echo in Zealand and the Pacific. the southern side of Central Tasmania, the wind farm will consist of 48 turbines, Source: Entura producing up to 144 MW of clean renewable electricity. Once operational, the project will Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Electricity price relief for Having turned the corner on power prices, it is important for consumers to make sure they households & businesses in are getting the best deal by logging onto the QLD, NSW & SA Government’s comparator site Energy Made 3 July Easy. Around 4.3 million households across Queensland, New South Wales and South To search for a better energy deal, Australia are now benefiting from a reduction visit energymadeeasy.gov.au or, in in retail electricity prices. Victoria, compare.switchon.vic.gov.au. This follows the Turnbull Government’s Recent analysis by the Australian Energy intervention in the gas market last year to Market Commission has found that customers ensure more gas for domestic use before it is moving off standing offers could save up to shipped offshore. With gas fired power plants $832 in South Australia, $574 in Victoria, $504 playing an increasing role in setting electricity in South East Queensland, $365 in New South prices, securing this additional gas has seen Wales and $273 in the Australian Capital the wholesale price of electricity decline Territory. around 25 per cent in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in Source: Australian Government 2017. The benefits from falling prices are significant: juwi Request for Proposal - If you’re with Powershop and you run a Solar PV developers and land owners are small business in Queensland, you will see up invited to participate in the juwi Request for to a $1470 saving in your power bill each year. Proposal process. If you're a household, you will see a saving of around $140 a year. juwi is seeking to acquire solar PV - In NSW, EnergyAustralia customers on their development sites that can accommodate Secure Saver will see a $65 reduction in their large scale PV projects (>40 Megawatts) annual household electricity bills and a small located in either New South Wales or Victoria. business in South Australia with Red Energy could save up to $1360. juwi will consider projects in the early stages of development as well as projects which have Further power price relief is on the way. The progressed through various approvals National Energy Guarantee, in conjunction required to construct the project and connect with existing policies, has been forecast to to the transmission network. reduce household electricity bills by $400 according to the independent Energy Security The online Request for Proposal form is Board. available here: http://www.juwi.com.au/rfp/ On top of this price relief, more consumers Source: juwi Australia are also getting a better deal since the Government’s meeting with the energy retailers in August last year. As a result of the meeting and the retailers commitment to write to 1.6 million households to tell them of better deals: - around 270,000 fewer customers are on market offers with expired discounts; and - around 230,000 fewer customers are on standing offers. Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Historic Snowy deal now Snowy Hydro can finance the project itself using retained earnings and borrowing. complete 3 July The Snowy Hydro Board is expected to make a The Turnbull Government has now taken full final investment decision on the Snowy 2.0 ownership of Snowy Hydro Limited in a deal project later this year. that paves the way for the Snowy 2.0 project to proceed to a final investment decision by Source: Australian Government the independent Snowy board. The historic agreement is part of our plan for a stronger economy. It will help generate Green hydrogen innovation more affordable, reliable electricity, and hub to be built