Powerlink selects Hitachi Energy to strengthen the grid in Queensland, Australia
Features | 20.04.2026 | 3 min read
Ensuring stable, secure operation of the transmission grid as the power system evolves
Electricity is becoming central to how communities live, travel and work. As demand grows and generation mix evolves, power systems must remain stable under increasingly variable operating conditions. In Australia, Powerlink, which delivers transmission services to more than five million Queensland citizens and hundreds of thousands of businesses, has selected Hitachi Energy to provide advanced power quality solutions that will reinforce system strength and support the reliable operation of the state’s grid.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which manages Australia’s electricity system and provides independent planning advice, notes1 that stronger technical support, particularly for maintaining voltage stability and inertia, will be essential to prevent disturbances and maintain secure operation as grid conditions become more complex. This is especially important in Queensland, where the transmission system must remain resilient through sudden changes in demand and major weather events the state has experienced over the past two decades. Together, these factors highlight the need for targeted, fast‑acting investments to uphold the stability Queenslanders expect.
From left to right: Bernard Norton, Country Managing Director of Hitachi Energy Australia; Hon David Janetzki MP, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership; Darryl Rowell, Interim Chief Executive at Powerlink Queensland.
Hitachi Energy will help address these needs by delivering technology that stabilizes voltage and supports secure operation during faults or rapid system changes. Four large synchronous condenser systems rated +161MVAr equipped with flywheel to manage 1442 MWs in inertia will be installed at Powerlink’s 275 kV transmission network at Stanwell, Nebo and Gladstone.
Hitachi Energy were successful after a competitive global tender process. It further strengthens our relationship as a trusted partner to deliver Queensland’s Energy Roadmap towards a secure and reliable energy future for Queenslanders. These machines are critical in delivering a once-in-a-generation program of work at the heart of our power system in Central Queensland.
In a world that relies increasingly on electricity, stability matters to everyone. Homes, transport, businesses and essential services all rely on power that stays steady as the energy landscape evolves. Strengthening power quality is how we ensure communities feel the benefits of progress without facing unnecessary disruption
Hitachi Energy brings deep expertise in integrating power quality for transmission grids, backed by a long history of collaboration with Powerlink. This experience underpins the company’s role in delivering complete synchronous condenser systems and supporting Powerlink’s long‑term system strength objectives.
This project also supports the direction outlined in Queensland Energy Roadmap2, which identifies priority areas for reinforcement to maintain a stable and affordable energy system. Hitachi Energy’s solutions will reduce the risk of voltage‑related events, improve operational security, and establish the technical foundation needed for the next phase of Queensland’s energy development. For residents and businesses across the state, these investments help ensure a future powered by clean, reliable and resilient electricity.
Synchronous condensers play a central role by providing inertia that helps the power system withstand sudden changes and maintain steady voltage during disturbances. Their modular design enables staged investment and supports the integration of more renewable energy while keeping the network resilient for communities and industries.
Hitachi Energy will design, integrate, install and commission the balance of plant, while Baker Hughes supplies the synchronous condenser machines. Hitachi Energy’s scope includes managing engineering interfaces and ensuring the complete systems meet Powerlink’s technical and operational requirements, an approach grounded in early engagement, detailed engineering collaboration and clear division of responsibilities across all partners.
Hitachi Energy has been operating in the Australian energy market for more than 100 years, with a strong local presence spanning Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin.
