Built on Trust. Delivered at Scale. AIH and the Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Substation

EnergyConnect — 700km Transmission Network & Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Substation

Client: Elecnor Australia
Project: Energy Connect
Location: South Australia and New South Wales
Project Value: $3.6B

EnergyConnect is one of the most significant pieces of energy infrastructure ever built in Australia. Delivered by Elecnor Australia, the project involved the construction of approximately 700km of new 330kV transmission lines spanning South Australia and New South Wales, designed to enable the connection of 4,950MW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid.

At the heart of the project was the Buronga substation near Mildura, one of the largest and most technically complex substations in the southern hemisphere. The Buronga substation serves as a critical interconnection point between the SA and NSW networks, requiring an extraordinary level of civil construction activity to bring it to completion.

At $3.6 billion, EnergyConnect represents a generational investment in Australia’s energy transition and a project where equipment availability, reliability and on-the-ground responsiveness were essential throughout delivery.

The Challenge

EnergyConnect presented a scale and complexity that few equipment hire providers in the region were positioned to support. Elecnor Australia required a partner capable of supplying a broad, coordinated fleet of earthmoving and support equipment across multiple stages of work spanning two states, two major sites, and a construction programme measured in years.

The project required:

A fleet with the depth to maintain consistent availability across multiple concurrent construction stages — without gaps that could hold up programme delivery
The agility to respond as site conditions evolved and programme priorities shifted, often with minimal notice
A supply partner willing to go beyond existing stock — sourcing and purchasing additional machines specifically to meet project demand when required
Reliable field service coordination across two geographically distinct locations: the Buronga substation near Mildura, and the more remote Dinawan site
A team with genuine experience in large-scale civil and energy infrastructure — one that understood the stakes and could be trusted to deliver without hand-holding

The two-site nature of the project added logistical complexity. Buronga’s proximity to Mildura allowed for responsive turnaround, while the Dinawan site’s remote location required careful forward planning around equipment and servicing.

The AIH Approach

Yellow Hire’s involvement in EnergyConnect began from the very first interaction when the Elecnor team visited Yellow Hire’s Mildura branch early in the project’s life. From that initial conversation, a single machine hire grew steadily into a full fleet supply relationship that would span the entire construction programme.

As project activity scaled, so did the equipment requirements. When the site called for additional machines, Yellow Hire moved quickly and where necessary, went out and purchased new plant specifically to meet programme needs, getting equipment on site within two days of a confirmed requirement. That willingness to invest and respond at pace, rather than simply work within existing stock, is how Yellow Hire became the trusted, go-to supplier for the Elecnor site teams across both project locations

Equipment supplied across the programme included:

Excavators
Posi tracks (skid steer loaders)
Water trucks
Tippers
Rollers
Graders
Loaders

Field Service & Site Support

With a significant number of machines operating across two project sites simultaneously, reliable field service support was a key part of the supply relationship.

At Buronga, Yellow Hire’s Mildura branch provided close-by support, allowing the team to respond to any servicing requirements without delay. At the more remote Dinawan site, Yellow Hire maintained strong coordination with its field service network, ensuring that when issues arose, they were addressed efficiently and without significant disruption to programme activities.

Yellow Hire’s proactive approach to service coordination gave the Elecnor team confidence that support was always accessible, reducing downtime risk across an exceptionally demanding construction environment.

What Our Client Said

“We are in the closing stages of completing the biggest substation in the southern hemisphere. We have worked with AIH/Yellow Hire from the word go. It’s a massive achievement for our company to complete a project of this scale. AIH/Yellow Hire have been with us every step of the way — with a quick and reliable service and availability of hire of machines at the drop of a hat. Also providing excellent service in the case of breakdowns. We would highly recommend the AIH/Yellow Hire team.”

Michael Powell — Civil Supervisor, Elecnor Australia

Project Outcome

Yellow Hire’s engagement on EnergyConnect grew from a single machine hire into a sustained fleet supply relationship covering the full construction programme across both project sites. The consistency of service, speed of response and willingness to go beyond standard stock availability to meet programme needs established Yellow Hire as a trusted long-term partner for the Elecnor site teams.

The Buronga substation — one of the largest and most technically complex ever built in the southern hemisphere, is now in its closing stages of completion, with Yellow Hire having supported the project from its earliest civil works through to final construction activity.

What We Delivered

Maintained full fleet supply across every stage of a $3.6 billion national energy infrastructure project — from early civil works through to final construction activity
Went beyond existing stock when the programme demanded it — purchasing new equipment and getting it on site within 48 hours of a confirmed requirement
Demonstrated genuine multi-site capability, supporting concurrent operations at the Buronga substation near Mildura and the remote Dinawan location
Delivered a broad, coordinated equipment fleet — excavators, graders, rollers, water trucks, posi tracks, tippers and loaders — across the full duration of the project
Maintained proactive field service coordination across both locations, ensuring the Elecnor teams always had a clear path to support when they needed it
Became the trusted, go-to supply partner for the Elecnor site teams from the very first interaction — and remained so through to project completion
Formally recognised by Elecnor’s civil leadership as a key contributor to the successful delivery of one of Australia’s most significant energy infrastructure projects

Broader AIH Capability

Temporary Power

Static and trailer-mounted generator hire from 20kVA to 1MW+

Earthmoving Plant

Excavators, graders, rollers and construction equipment across multiple weight classes

Field Service

Diesel maintenance and field service support at remote and regional locations

OTR Tyres

Full OTR tyre management for mine site and civil construction fleets

Site Support

General site support services across the project lifecycle — civil, mining & energy

Looking for an end to end equipment solutions partner who is reliable, dependable and shows up for the long haul? AIH and Yellow Hire builds relationships that go beyond the agreement, bringing the right equipment, the right service and a team that stays with you from first call to final pour. Let’s talk about your next project.

1800 784 453 | enquiries@atlasholdings.com.au | atlasholdings.com.au