Lumea will connect one of NSW’s largest solar farms to the grid, providing a major boost to the state’s transition to renewables with enough clean energy to power nearly a quarter of a million homes.
Energy connections
Lumea to connect Hunter Region solar farm to the grid
The 585MWdc Goulburn River solar farm, being constructed by Lightsource bp near Merriwa in the Upper Hunter, will produce 1.3TWh of renewable energy annually, powering the equivalent of 225,000 homes. It is expected to save 910,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The project has plans to include an additional battery energy storage system to shift renewable energy to night-time peaks and support grid reliability.
Lumea Executive General Manager Craig Stallan said: “This is an exciting project for Lumea and we are pleased to partner with Lightsource bp, a global leader in the development of renewable energy projects, to deliver cleaner and cheaper energy from its Goulburn River solar farm to consumers.
“Lumea is helping to accelerate the clean energy transition by connecting renewable energy generators to the National Electricity Market. Over the past five years we have connected more than 55 generators to the grid and brought 12GW of energy to market – enough to power four million households.
“We are working hard to deliver tailored solutions that enable reliable and efficient energy connections and large-scale storage solutions to support Australia’s clean energy future.”
Lumea will carry out the following works to connect the solar farm to the National Electricity Market:
- 500kV transmission line cut-in
- 500kV switching station
- 500kV substation and associated works.
The project is expected to be operational in 2026.
Media enquiries: Mark Nolan 0429 047 136
Transgrid Group
As Australia charts a path to a clean energy future, the Transgrid Group is providing the essential infrastructure and services to make it possible. Our regulated business, Transgrid, is delivering critical transmission projects like EnergyConnect and HumeLink as it helps to make a better power system for Australians. Our renewables business, Lumea, provides critically important energy services, including battery storage, to connect renewable generators to the new grid. With a world-class delivery team backing both businesses, we ensure efficiency and excellence through economies of scale in supply chain and resourcing – helping to prepare the nation's most important grid be ready to deliver reliable, safe and affordable energy to consumers.
Transgrid
Transgrid is responsible for operating, maintaining and upgrading Australia’s largest electricity transmission network, stretching 13,000km across NSW and the ACT to power 3.7 million homes and businesses. In a decade-long, $16.5 billion program, Transgrid is building priority clean energy transmission projects for the Federal and NSW governments. The resulting new renewable energy superhighway will form the backbone of the National Electricity Market, ensuring the grid can operate at 100% instantaneous renewables before coal generators retire.
Lumea
Lumea is also helping to accelerate Australia’s energy transition by connecting renewable energy generators to the grid. In the past five years, the business has connected more than 55 generators to the National Electricity Market and brought 12GW to the market – enough to power four million households. Lumea works with renewable generators to deliver tailored solutions that enable reliable and efficient energy connections and large-scale storage solutions. Lumea is also working to deliver major transmission projects, and is a leading telecommunications provider in Australia, with a focus on regional areas, data transmission and emergency broadcast services.