Hitachi Energy has been awarded the contract for a significant system strength project by Powerlink, including the supply and installation of four synchronous condensers—also known as syncons—to reinforce the Central Queensland grid as part of the Queensland Energy Roadmap.
As energy demand grows and generation mix evolves, synchronous condensers play a central role in Queensland energy system, stabilising voltage and supporting secure operation during faults or rapid system changes.
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Hitachi Energy will design, integrate, install and commission the balance of plant, while Hitachi Energy’s technology partner Baker Hughes will supply the synchronous condenser machines, rated +161MVAr equipped with flywheel to manage 1442MW in inertia.
As more renewable energy comes online across the country, up to 35 syncon machines will be required across the National Electricity Market by 2030, and 40-45 by the mid-2030s. Nine of those are expected in Queensland.
Hitachi Energy expects the first two syncon machines to be operational in early 2029, with the following two operational later that year.
Powerlink interim CEO Darryl Rowell said the syncons were critical for delivering a once-in-a-generation program of work at the heart of the power system in Central Queensland.
“Hitachi Energy were successful after a competitive global tender process. This further strengthens our relationship as trusted partners to help deliver Queensland’s Energy Roadmap and continue providing a reliable and sustainable energy future for Queenslanders,” he said.
Hitachi Energy Australia managing director Bernard Norton said, “These large synchronous condenser machines will help take the Queensland electricity grid into the 21st century and beyond.
“That’s 1,000 tonnes of spinning metal, each rotating at 1,000Hz, across three crucial sites on the electricity grid in Central Queensland.
“It gets Queensland well and truly out of the starting blocks in dealing with one of the key challenges of our energy transition—maintaining system strength.
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“This is certainly one of our most critical and important system strength projects across the country.”
