Transgrid has recently published a Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) for meeting demand growth in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis ‘Priority Growth Area’. This PACR has been prepared in conjunction with Endeavour Energy (as the relevant distribution network service provider). Publication of this PACR represents the final step in the RIT-T process, following the Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) published in May 2024 and the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) published in March 2025.
Transgrid has worked with Endeavour Energy and determined that the expected increase in demand from developments in the Aerotropolis precinct will result in power flows exceeding the capacity of the Macarthur 132 kV transmission Bulk Supply Point (BSP) potentially from 2026/27 under transformer outage conditions. This may lead to load shedding under contingency conditions at the Macarthur 132 kV BSP, after Endeavour Energy completes the first phase of its supply network upgrades in the area.
Transgrid and Endeavour Energy have identified an opportunity to improve network supply capacity to the Aerotropolis precinct. This will provide significant net market benefits to participants in the National Electricity Market (NEM) by eliminating the need for load shedding. Consequently, this RIT-T is considered to be a ‘market benefits’ driven RIT-T (i.e., as opposed to a ‘reliability corrective action’).
Transgrid published a Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) on 4 March 2025 and invited written submissions on the material presented within the document. No submissions were received in response to the PADR, and no material changes have occurred since the PADR.
The PACR presents two feasible options that would meet the identified need from a technical, commercial, and project delivery perspective. The optimal commercially and technically feasible option presented in this PACR – Option 1 (New BSP next to the Kemps Creek substation) - is the preferred option to meet the identified need at this stage of the RIT-T.
In accordance with the requirements of the Rules, a summary of the PACR is made available on the AEMO website. A copy of the PACR can be obtained from Transgrid’s website, Endeavour Energy’s website, or by emailing [email protected].