South Australia is on the cusp of a ‘once-in-a-generation’ economic growth opportunity, underpinned by affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity, the latest Transmission Annual Planning Report (TAPR) by ElectraNet has revealed.
The 2026 TAPR shows that interest to connect to South Australia’s transmission network is at its highest level in decades, because of the strength of the state’s grid and renewable electricity generation. It reveals that peak electricity demand is forecast to double over the next 15 years, from 3.3GW currently to more than 6.5GW.
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ElectraNet CEO Simon Emms said the TAPR points to South Australia entering a period of economic growth with thousands of jobs being created, underpinned by the state’s world-leading renewable electricity system.
“South Australia is facing a jobs boom as industries seek to access the state’s unique combination of valuable minerals and world-class wind and solar renewable energy,” Emms said.
“As industries such as mining, steelmaking, defence and AI expand, the demand for electricity in the state is set to grow significantly.
“We have the opportunity set the new global standard for a modern economy, where rapidly growing business and industry are supported by clean energy.
“Timely investment in the transmission network will be the key to unlocking this economic growth across South Australia and the thousands of jobs that come with it.”
The 2026 TAPR shows increased connection demand is expected in Greater Adelaide, the Mid North and South East as a result of data centres and the AI boom, as well as defence industry development at Osborne Naval Shipyard. While in the Eyre Peninsula and Upper Spencer Gulf regions, growth will be driven by the mining and minerals sector, steel production reinvigoration at Whyalla, and the Northern Water project.
Realising this enormous growth opportunity, however, hinges on planning and enhancement of infrastructure to keep up with rapidly growing electricity demand.
South Australia still has an abundance of untapped renewable energy potential in the north of the state to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply to support this growth opportunity.
“Transmission infrastructure will be vital to create an electricity superhighway, taking energy from the source to where it is needed, and managing the peaks and troughs of demand,” Emms said.
“While South Australia has an exciting economic opportunity ahead, we must have the ability to take it. It is vital that we get the planning right and that regulators and governing bodies continue to evolve with us as we tackle truly unique energy circumstances.
“We need to ensure we the transmission network and overall energy system facilitates the remarkable growth opportunity for the whole state.
“ElectraNet is focussed on the timely and efficient development of transmission infrastructure to support South Australia’s energy transition and economic growth in the most cost-effective way.
“New transmission will be essential to connect new generation and storage to existing customer demand, and to meet increasing demand from electrification and emerging industrial expansion.”
The TAPR highlights three proposed transmission projects that will be important to South Australia’s growth over the next 15 years:
- The Northern Transmission Project (NTx), currently in early planning stages, will extend the transmission network’s capability across the northern and eastern parts of South Australia. This vastly increases network reliability and ability to enable the State’s growth.
- Eyre Peninsula Upgrade, anticipated by 2027/28, will increase the transmission capacity by enabling the Cultana–Yadnarie lines to operate at 275 kV. This will be vital to mining and manufacturing growth in the region and will also unlock new renewable energy generation.
- South East Expansion, aims to improve access to the transmission network and support future industrial growth such as timber processing, food manufacturing and biomass and wind energy generation.
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Read the 2026 Transmission Annual Planning Report here.
