UGL has been awarded a significant contract to deliver essential upgrades to Western Australia’s electricity infrastructure. The contract, awarded by Western Power, highlights UGL’s continued commitment to supporting Australia’s transition to renewable energy. Western Power, owned by the Western Australian State Government, is responsible for the South West Interconnecting System (SWIS), which supplies electricity to the state’s southwestern regions.
Advancing Western Australia’s Clean Energy Goals
As Western Australia progresses toward its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Western Power is preparing the state’s electricity network for a cleaner energy future. This transition involves enabling the widespread adoption of rooftop solar, supporting the electrification of homes and vehicles, and facilitating industry shifts toward renewable energy.
A critical component of this initiative is the North Region transmission upgrades, a transmission augmentation project aimed at increasing the capacity of the network’s northern section. Funded by the State Government with an allocation of $655 million, this project will help unlock the full potential of renewable energy generation in the region.
Clean Energy Link – North Region Upgrades
To meet decarbonisation objectives, the existing electricity network must evolve to accommodate a tenfold increase in renewable energy generation. This involves upgrading sections of the northern network, which currently operate on a mix of 132 kV and 330 kV transmission lines, to significantly boost capacity.
UGL’s Scope of Work
As part of the North Region transmission upgrades initiative, UGL will design, supply, install, and commission extensions to the Neerabup 132kV and 330kV substations, located approximately 40 km north of Perth.
The contract appears to have similar characteristics to an EPC Contract, where the contractor takes on board the majority of construction risks, including engineering and procurement tasks.
These enhancements will play a pivotal role in transporting renewable energy from the Wheatbelt and Mid-West regions to the broader network. Doug Moss, UGL Managing Director, remarked on the company’s contribution:
“UGL is a leader in the design, construction and commissioning of critical electricity infrastructure across Australia. We have a rich history and strong presence in Western Australia, including the construction and commissioning of renewable energy assets as well as being involved in the upgrade and maintenance of Western Power’s network.
We are pleased to continue our relationship with Western Power, supporting the Clean Energy Link program and their drive to transforming the network towards a cleaner, brighter and more resilient energy supply for the next generation.”
Work on the North Region transmission upgrades project is scheduled to begin in February 2025, with UGL engaged under a two-year contract to deliver the planned upgrades.
Western Power commitment to a Sustainable Future
Western Power’s Chief Executive Officer, Sam Barbaro, also emphasised the importance of the partnership:
“Western Power looks forward to working with UGL to deliver this critical infrastructure supporting decarbonisation goals as we transition to a sustainable energy system.
Connecting energy solutions that support the harnessing of the abundance of renewable energy resources WA has to offer is critical to unlocking a cleaner energy future. We’re continuing to investigate network capacity expansion and strengthening options that maximise the use of existing network infrastructure, corridors, and easements and minimise impacts on the communities and the environment.”
