A SWIPE has been taken at the consultation processes used in rural communities by AEMO.
Syncline says it has witnessed first-hand, the distress of rural communities that carry the burden of the energy transition without sharing the benefit.
“Consultation has not been sincere and project designs are finalised with no thought to the impacts on rural life.
“The network planning process is also poor and often the need for transmission has changed dramatically from what was approved years before.
“We think there is a better way.”
Who is Syncline? It is a company founded by Phil Galloway that has been part of major projects in several states.
One is the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub that started construction in December 2023. It is a 1.6 GWh BESS just outside Melbourne that includes a 500kV substation and was sold to Equis  with the State Government’s SEC Victoria as a 40 per cent shareholder.
When fully developed, according to the Syncline’s website, the hub will be one of the largest energy storage facilities in the world with a total connection of 1.2 GW which already has planning approval, network capacity and land reserved.
“Syncline originated the project, having been a pioneer in identifying the need for very large-scale battery energy storage system in late 2018. We scoped the engineering and grid requirements, shortlisted numerous sites and then set about securing the optimal location at Plumpton, just 40km from the Melbourne CBD.”
Syncline was also part of the Bannerton Solar Project, a 110MW site near Robinvale,, on 192 hectares with 319,406 solar panels. Site owners include a UK-listed infrastructure fund  Hanwha Energy Corporation and Korea Western Power Co Ltd (KOWEPO).