Australia’s major transmission infrastructure project, HumeLink, is now open for connection to solar, wind, and energy storage facilities, creating a new pathway for renewable generation in New South Wales (NSW).

The 500kV line is expected to unlock up to 3 GW of renewable capacity for the grid and has achieved “considered project” status under the National Electricity Rules, enabling developers to formally submit connection enquiries.

Main construction will begin in the coming weeks, delivering 365 km of new transmission lines and upgrades across four substations to link Wagga Wagga, Bannaby, and Maragle.

“Once the project is connected to the network, the line will unlock the Snowy Hydro Scheme expansion project, Snowy 2.0, which will provide an additional 2,200 MW of on-demand energy into the grid – enough energy storage to power three million homes for a week,” said Jason Krstanoski, acting executive general manager of network at Transgrid, the project operator.

The HumeLink project is forecast to deliver over AU$1 billion (US$651 million) in net benefits by boosting access to affordable, sustainable energy for Australian households and businesses.

Krstanoski added that the project will also enable more renewable and storage facilities to connect to the NSW grid, supporting energy reliability, sustainability, and emissions targets: “We’re ready to help customers connect quickly and bring new generation online.”

The update comes as New South Wales advances its clean energy strategy, targeting 16 GW of new renewable generation capacity, with major grid infrastructure like HumeLink playing a central role. It also follows AU$1.6 billion of investment into transmission development in Western Australia.