AEMO has completed the procurement process on behalf of the Victorian Government for several stage 1 projects outlined in its Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Development Plan (RDP).
In August 2021, the Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change made a Ministerial Order under the National Electricity (Victoria) Act 2005 (NEVA) requiring AEMO in its role as Victorian Planner to undertake procurement processes for contestable and non-contestable projects.
Today, AusNet Services has been contracted to design, construct, own and operate the Mortlake Turn-in Project.
Currently, two 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission circuits run past the Mortlake Terminal Station, with only one (Moorabool to Mortlake to Heywood) connected to the station. The Mortlake Turn-in Project will connect the existing Tarrone to Haunted Gully 500 kV transmission circuit at the Mortlake Terminal Station.
Connecting both circuits at the Mortlake Terminal Station will allow a more balanced sharing of power between the two parallel circuits, making the network in the area more stable, which is expected to allow up to 1,500 megawatts (MW) of additional generation output by the end of 2025.
In addition, AusNet Services has been contracted to deliver nine minor power-system augmentations across Victoria’s Murray River, South West and Central North REZs before the end of 2025.
Designed to increase network capacity by approximately 200 MW to harness existing and future renewable generation developments in these areas, the projects include investment that will reduce voltage and thermal limitations and generation curtailment.
For these non-contestable projects, AEMO provided AusNet Services, Victoria’s Declared Transmission System Operator, request for proposal packages that contained technical, commercial, social procurement and Local Jobs First requirements.
The response by AusNet Services was then thoroughly analysed from a technical, commercial and legal perspective to confirm compliance, including several workshops and discussions to clarify conformance.
ENDS