As part of the country's overall strategy to achieve net-zero emissions and shift the energy mix towards renewables, Hitachi Energy supported Ausnet in the Golden Plains Wind Farm project by supplying two key 850MVA 500kV power transformers.
Winding up toward net-zero
Australia is blessed with abundant wind and solar resources. As part of its commitment to halve green gas emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2050, Australia is rewriting its energy narrative and looking to overhaul its energy mix.
The country's overall strategy is to achieve Net-Zero emissions by deploying clean energy and investing in renewable energy projects. The government is committed to enabling this transition: 82 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030. This is a promise to the Australian people and industry - a promise of reliable, low-carbon energy.
The current energy mix reflects this commitment as renewable sources provide 32 percent of Australia's power with wind energy playing a growing role in the low-carbon transition. Harnessing wind energy and integrating it into a reliable and resilient electricity system requires augmentation of the electricity grid connecting generation to consumption.
At the heart of this movement stands the Golden Plains Wind Farm, located in Victoria, Australia's largest permitted onshore wind project. Owned by Tag Energy (85 percent) and Ingka Group (15 percent), this landmark $3 billion project aims to produce a staggering 4,000 gigawatt-hours of green energy annually, enough to power more than 765,000 homes in Victoria and across Australia.
With sustainability at its core, this ambitious project will prevent 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
AusNet, one of the country's largest utilities, was recently appointed to connect the first phase of the Golden Plains Wind Farm to the grid. To unlock the potential of this project, AusNet will design, build, and operate the transmission facilities for the wind farm, including a new 500 kV terminal station consisting of two 500/220 kV 850 MVA transformers, a 5-km transmission line and a new 220 kV substation.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm will be constructed in two phases (East and West Stages) and will have a total capacity of 1,330 megawatts (MW) when the second phase is completed.
Construction of the Golden Plains Wind Farm started in Q1 2023 and will consist of 122 turbines and a 300 MW battery storage facility that will add flexibility and stability to the grid. Once completed, the project will operate for approximately 30 years.
Hitachi Energy’s transformers at the Golden plains wind farm
Hitachi Energy is a key technology partner to AusNet for the design, delivery, and installation of two 850 MVA 500 kV Power Transformers. Manufactured with 100 percent fossil-free production methods and in a record time of 12 months from order, these transformers embody Hitachi Energy’s excellence and sustainability. They are custom-designed to optimize the use of materials and energy efficiency and meet the highest quality standards.
Hitachi Energy’s transformers will play a critical role integrating renewable energy into Australia’s transmission grid, supporting Hitachi Energy’s Purpose of advancing a sustainable energy future for all. This project is another great example of global collaboration and a testament to the company’s ’s commitment to support its customers in advancing the world’s energy system to be more sustainable, flexible, and secure.
Contributing to a greener Victoria while supporting local communities
Since the construction phase of the Golden Plains Wind Farm, the project has supported local communities by creating around 700 jobs as part of the two-staged construction. Upon completion, 70 direct operational jobs are expected to be created. Golden Plains Wind Farm is committed to supporting the regional community and generating social value.
Commenting on the AusNet and Hitachi Energy collaboration, Andrew Thorogood, Project Director, AusNet, captures the sentiment surrounding this project:
At AusNet, we're proud to be a key partner in the Golden Plains Wind Farm project. We handle the design, construction, ownership, and operation of the essential 500kV transmission assets that channel the clean energy from the wind farm to the grid through our terminal substation assets.
This project is of utmost importance to accelerate Australia's transition to renewable energy in the state of Victoria and deliver reliable and clean energy to thousands of Australian households. That's why we’ve chosen to partner with Hitachi Energy. With their extensive experience in transformers and strong local support, we're confident in delivering the necessary terminal substation transformers for the project's success.
