Western Renewables Link

Client:

Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Contract form:

Incentivised Target Cost (ITC)

Location:

VIC, Australia

Project lifecycle stage:

Procurement

Project value:

$789 million

Duration:

2025 (3 months)

At a glance

AusNet, under contract with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AMEO), is to deliver the Western Renewables Link (WRL), a newly proposed 190 km high-voltage overhead electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from a new terminal station near Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne's north-west. AusNet has been engaged to develop, deliver, operate and maintain this critical infrastructure, unlocking the renewable energy potential for the state and establishing western Victoria as a key Renewable Energy Zone - helping deliver clean and affordable energy to all Victorians.

Objectives

The Western Renewables Link is vital in creating and carrying renewable energy across the western part of Victoria. The Project's key objectives are to:

Unlock wind and solar capability in western Victoria.
Create capability of carrying more than 3,000 MW of energy.

AEMO wishes to unlock Victoria's renewable energy potential, by enabling large-scale wind and solar projects by providing critical transmission infrastructure to replace the aging coal-based transmission system. To allow for the construction of critical transmission infrastructure, AEMO required suitable contractual documentation to be set in place and reviewed to ensure appropriateness from both a technical and commercial perspective.

Our services

SmedTech was engaged by AEMO to undertake a comprehensive review of the Project Scope and Delivery Requirements (PSDR) on behalf of AEMO. In this role, we:

Reviewed the Project Scope and Delivery Requirements (PSDR) to assess its integrity as both a technical and contractual document.
Evaluated the adequacy and clarity of the technical specifications, identifying ambiguities and ensuring alignment with the Project Deed.
Assessed risks and identified commercial matters and implications of the PSDR for further consideration by the WRL Project team.

Our impact

SmedTech played a vital role in identifying several key risks in the PSDR – we provided a detailed analysis and strategic input to deliver key recommendations to strengthen the PSDR. Our work enabled AMEO to enhance the clarity and structure of the PSDR, mitigate its risk position during negotiations.