Early work to kick off Victoria’s massive renewable energy grid upgrade

But the drive to boost renewable energy comes as concerns grow about the power grid’s ability to handle fluctuating wind and solar energy surges, many of which are in western Victoria, Aging and increasingly unreliable lignite-fired generators in state.

Australia’s Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said that, based on new and existing projects, Victoria will face a power reliability gap in 2024 and minimum reliability standards in Victoria from 2028 onwards. is expected to be broken.

D’Ambrosio said an order has been issued allowing the energy regulator to begin planning for the VNI West project immediately. This includes detailed engineering design, costing and consultation with the local community, with environmental assessments beginning later this year, a year earlier than he expected.

AEMO CEO Daniel Westermann He recently warned that without a “social license,” critical power infrastructure may never be built.

“Nobody likes to be in a corner,” he said.

“If you don’t do this right, the infrastructure will be expensive, take a long time to build, and may never be finished in the end.”

D’Ambrosio said AEMO will also explore alternative options to minimize the impact of the KerangLink project on local communities, including a connection point with the Western Renewables Link in Victoria.

Leading up to last year’s state elections, the federal government announced that the federal Clean Energy Finance Corporation would provide $750 million in concessional financing to help build the KerangLink interconnect.

The Morning Edition newsletter is your guide to the day’s most important and interesting articles, analysis and insights. SIGN UP HERE.