Transgrid has escalated its far west operations response following a catastrophic weather event on 17 October 2024, with emergency towers lifted into place and a grid-scale battery powering up.
More than 120 specialists from around Australia have mobilised to reconstruct the 3.5km section of the storm-damaged transmission line and reinstate the region’s primary power supply.
Transgrid teams have now safely erected four of seven 60m-tall emergency response high-voltage transmission towers and are working to fast-track commissioning of a transmission microgrid, with AGL’s Broken Hill Battery Energy Storage System to provide additional backup generation to the region.
Transgrid Head of Far West Operations Response, Sam Pickering, said, “We acknowledge the support of the New South Wales Government, Essential Energy, the community and the many businesses that have mobilised to support this response.”
“I want to especially acknowledge and thank the community for continuing to be mindful of their power usage during peak periods and for continuing to support our efforts here on the ground.”
Transgrid crews are concentrating tower construction efforts in the morning and afternoon periods when wind conditions allow for the safe standing of the 60m-tall steel structures.
“With weather and ground conditions permitting, we will continue to safely put in place the remaining transmission towers so that conductor stringing, testing and energisation can then commence,” Mr Pickering said.
“I would like to thank the team for their incredible work in getting these structures built as safely and efficiently as they have.”
AGL’s Broken Hill Battery Energy Storage System is successfully being charged by power from the grid and will be used to increase stability of power supply for local communities while the storm-damaged transmission line is reconstructed. The grid-scale battery will provide additional power to supplement supply and reduce reliance on the large-scale backup generator.
“This battery is now operating as the first step in forming our microgrid, which will support the backup generator. This means we are continuing to further build resilience into the grid,” Mr Pickering said.
“It’s taken a significant effort to get to this point, and it is due in no small part to the technical expertise of the hundreds of people working collaboratively on this emergency response.
“We want to again acknowledge and thank the community and every individual working on the emergency response in Broken Hill for their ongoing support.”
Featured image: Transgrid
