Vinci secures landmark PPP for power transmission in New South Wales

The Acerez consortium has signed a 35-year agreement to build and operate over 240 km of high-voltage lines in Australia, marking the country's first public-private partnership in the sector.

Partagez:

The government of New South Wales has concluded a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with the Acerez consortium in the field of power transmission, the first of its kind in Australia. This 35-year contract covers the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a network of over 240 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines. It also includes eight substations intended to connect renewable electricity generation sites to the main grid, located in the Orana region.

Vinci teams up with Acciona and Endeavour Energy

The Acerez consortium brings together Vinci, through its specialised subsidiary Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios (Cobra IS), Spanish company Acciona and Australian distributor Endeavour Energy. Together, they are responsible for deploying 330 kV and 500 kV lines that will link solar photovoltaic and onshore wind production facilities to distribution infrastructure. The project is planned to be commissioned progressively, aiming to connect up to 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of additional capacity by 2028.

A project aligned with state energy policy

This partnership forms part of the development strategy for Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) initiated by the government of New South Wales. These zones, which combine generation and electricity storage capacity, aim to anticipate the gradual shutdown of ageing coal-fired power stations. According to projections, the project will supply up to 2 million households and enhance network reliability in one of the state’s most dynamic regions.

Economic stakes and regional development

The site, located in the Orana region, is expected to generate up to 5,000 jobs at the peak of construction and attract up to AUD20bn (approximately €12.2bn) in private investment by 2030. Cobra IS, which has already deployed its expertise on similar projects in Brazil, is reinforcing its expansion strategy in the Australian large-scale energy infrastructure market through this contract.

At a conference held on June 11, Brussels reaffirmed its goal to reduce energy costs for households and businesses by relying on targeted investments and greater consumer involvement.
The European Commission held a high-level dialogue to identify administrative obstacles delaying renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects across the European Union.
Despite increased generation capacity and lower tariffs, Liberia continues to rely on electricity imports to meet growing demand, particularly during the dry season.
South Korea's new president, Lee Jae-myung, is reviewing the national energy policy, aiming to rebalance nuclear regulations without immediately shutting down reactors currently in operation.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission released its 2024 annual report, highlighting sustained activity on grid infrastructure, pricing, and evolving European regulatory frameworks.
The United States is easing proposed penalties for foreign LNG tankers and vehicle carriers, sharply reducing initial costs for international operators while maintaining strategic support objectives for the American merchant marine.
While capital is flowing into clean technologies globally, Africa remains marginalised, receiving only a fraction of the expected flows, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Mexican government aims to mobilise up to $9bn in private investment by 2030, but the lack of a clear commercial framework raises doubts within the industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is withdrawing strict fuel economy standards adopted under Biden, citing overreach in legal authority regarding the integration of electric vehicles into regulatory calculations for automakers.
In 2024, renewable energies covered 33.9% of electricity consumption in metropolitan France, driven by increased hydropower output and solar capacity expansion.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced its strategic guidelines for 2030, focusing on the energy transition, European competitiveness and consumer needs.
Madrid paid an arbitration award to Blasket Renewable Investments after more than ten years of litigation related to the withdrawal of tax advantages for renewable energy investors.
The global renewable energy market continues to grow, reaching $1,200 billion in 2024, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), supported by investments in solar and wind energy.
The Québec government is granting $3.43mn to the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Electric Cooperative to deploy smart meters and upgrade infrastructure across 16 municipalities.
New US tariff measures are driving up energy sector costs, with a particularly strong impact on storage and solar, according to a study by Wood Mackenzie.
Despite the proclaimed urgency, European climate investments stagnate around €500 billion per year, far from the estimated needs of nearly €850 billion. New financial instruments are attempting to revive an indispensable momentum.
African countries now spend more on debt service than on education and healthcare, limiting essential investments despite significant energy potential. The G20, under pressure, struggles to provide an adequate response to the financial and climate challenges.
Four renewable energy producers have been authorised to sell 400 MW directly to Egyptian industrial companies without public support.
A report by Ember shows ASEAN could supply nearly one-third of its data centres with wind and solar power by 2030 without storage, provided appropriate public policies are implemented.
Spanish authorities and grid operator REE denied conducting any experiment on the national electricity network prior to the massive outage on April 28, the cause of which remains unknown.