One of the Southern Hemisphere's largest and most advanced substations has been completed in Buronga, southwestern NSW, marking a major milestone in Australia's largest transmission project--EnergyConnect.

Delivered by Transgrid and construction partner Elecnor Australia, the 15-hectare Buronga substation will serve as a critical hub for connecting renewable energy to the grid across New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. The $1.8 billion interconnector spans 900km and is designed to support the energy transition away from coal-fired power, while improving reliability and reducing electricity costs for millions of consumers.

Gordon Taylor, Executive General Manager of Major Projects at Transgrid, described the substation as a "true feat in design, engineering, construction and commissioning," noting that it is the first in the world to operate five phase-shifting transformers in parallel, improving grid stability and reducing congestion.

Built over three years with more than 24,000m³ of concrete, the substation features advanced components sourced globally--including synchronous condensers, shunt reactors, capacitor banks, and power transformers.

Felipe Delgado, Project Director at Elecnor Australia, said the project demonstrated the success of collaborative engineering across civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines.

With the final section now energised, the substation's capacity will rise from 150MW to 800MW upon completion of the 540km eastern section between Buronga and Wagga Wagga.