Community
15 May, 2025
History made to unlock renewable potential
AN Australian-first has been achieved after AusNet successfully diverted a 500kV energised powerline in to the Mortlake Terminal Station as part of upgrades to harness the region’s renewable energy.
AusNet recently completed these groundbreaking engineering works by performing the live electricity transfer from an existing, energised 500kV transmission line into the Mortlake Terminal Station.
AusNet executive general manager transmission Liz Ryan said AusNet was pleased to have safely completed the live line transfer and would look at expanding this type of work across the transmission network.
While these practices have been developed over many years in the United States of America, this is an innovative and leading-edge approach to this type of work in the Australian transmission landscape.
“As the energy transition accelerates, we’ve been investing in new methodologies to enhance our operations and reduce the impact of planned outages on the broader power system,” Ms Ryan said.
“These outages don’t typically affect households directly, but they can increase market costs and delay critical upgrades – so finding ways to avoid them benefits everyone.
“Based on the success of the live line work, AusNet will investigate further opportunities to expand this into our operational plans.
“If we are able to do more live line work, this will help enable us to accelerate our works program significantly.”
A crew of 30 completed the works with specialised resources and equipment.
Four highly skilled live line workers brought in from the United States and several AusNet contractors are in the process of being trained to undertake this work in the future.
Prior to the transfer the existing transmission line had connected between the Haunted Gully Terminal station to Tarrone Terminal station, with the transmission line running past the existing Mortlake Terminal Station.
The Mortlake Terminal Station also has undergone an upgrade in recent months to construct additional bays which will enhance the network capabilities of the site and improve reliability for the region.
The Mortlake Terminal Station upgrades are expected to be completed in August this year.
This project is crucial for the Victorian network, as it releases new capacity and reduces curtailment, enabling up to 1.5GW of additional renewable energy within the region.
It is part of network upgrades to modernise and improve the grid, initiated by Victorian government’s Renewable Development Plan, which will support Victoria's transition to renewable energy.
AusNet worked with Consolidated Power Projects and Quanta Energized Services to deliver these expanded live works practices in Australia.
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