Transgrid has completed the installation of all seven emergency response towers following a catastrophic weather event on 17 October.
Transgrid crews are accelerating repairs to the 3.5km storm-damaged transmission line near Broken Hill in order to restore the primary power supply to the far-west region as soon as possible.
Transgrid said that more that 120 specialists worked in rotation 24/7 to safely lift seven 60m-tall high-voltage steel towers into place, with six cranes, eleven elevated work platforms and two excavators mobilised across the construction zone.
The next step will see specialist stringing crews begin to lift three conductors onto each transmission tower before testing begins at both ends of the 250km high-voltage line and the primary power supply can be switched on.
Transgrid Head Far West Operations Response, Sam Pickering, said, “This is significant progress, and I want to thank our team who have mobilised from across Australia and who continue to put in an enormous effort to reinstate the main power supply to Broken Hill.
“With the solid progress made over the weekend, we are continuing to concurrently review the scheduling of energisation of the primary power supply with potential to complete slightly ahead of the current date of 6 November. We will continue to keep the community of Broken Hill informed of our progress.”
Transgrid has increased the stability of backup power supplies to Broken Hill communities. A grid-scale battery, charged by a combination of the large-scale generator and excess rooftop solar, began dispatching power on 27 October to provide additional capacity during the evening peak period.
“As load on the generator increased to safe operating limits last night, the Transgrid control room discharged the grid-scale battery into the local network, helping ensure a stable flow of power to the community,” Mr Pickering said.
“This is a positive step in building further resilience into the network. This is also the first microgrid operating within the National Electricity Market.”
Mr Pickering also highlighted the high-risk nature of the work being carried out by Transgrid crews and reiterated the need to minimise disruptions so the permanent power supply could be returned as quickly and safely as possible.
“This is an emergency construction effort with our workers performing very challenging tasks,” he said.
“We ask that interested parties respect the strict exclusion zones, which are there for your safety, and to allow our team members to continue their critical emergency response work safely.”
