TransGrid - Expanding NSW-QLD transmission transfer capacity RIT-T - Request for AER determination - 20 December 2019

On 20 December 2019, TransGrid submitted an application to the AER seeking a determination that the preferred option identified in the Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) for the Expanding NSW-QLD Transmission Transfer Capacity RIT-T satisfies the requirements of the RIT-T cost benefit analysis.

TransGrid, in conjunction with Powerlink, investigated options for expanding electricity transmission transfer capacity between New South Wales and Queensland. The RIT-T process focussed on options for an incremental upgrade to the existing Queensland-New South Wales interconnector (QNI) transfer capacity in the near term, consistent with the ‘Group 1’ QNI upgrade project identified in AEMO’s 2018 Integrated System Plan (ISP) and the 'QNI Minor' upgrade in the draft 2020 ISP.

TransGrid and Powerlink released their PACR (the final step in the RIT-T process) on 20 December 2019, which identified the following preferred option:

• uprating the Liddell to Tamworth 330kV lines; and
• installing new dynamic reactive support at Tamworth and Dumaresq, and shunt capacitor banks at Tamworth, Armidale and Dumaresq.

The purpose of the RIT-T is to identify the credible option that maximises the present value of net economic benefit to all those who produce, consume and transport electricity in the market.