Construction has begun in the town of Buninyong, Ballarat (VIC) in preparation for the installation of Australia’s largest battery. The 2 megawatt battery will be housed in a standard 40 foot shipping container and is capable of providing approximately 3,000 customers with an hour of backup power during a power outage. The battery is currently being built in South Korea […]
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
Three of Australia’s largest energy providers, have formed a partnership to support the Queensland SES. The partnership between Energex, Ergon and Powerlink will see $200,000 go towards funding new equipment for SES units throughout the state. The sponsorship deal is the first time that the three electricity network corporations have worked together to support a volunteer-based organisation. Queensland Fire and […]
The AEMC have released a discussion paper that looks at how future changes in technology may affect the National Electricity Market and what they can do to prepare. The discussion paper looked at whether existing regulatory frameworks are flexible enough to support the integration of storage technologies, or whether regulatory change is necessary. The analysis was informed by collaboration with […]
Roxtec and TasNetworks recently collaborated to solve an ongoing issue with silt and water seeping into TasNetworks’ Hadspen substation, in Tasmania’s north. Water ingress through the conduits and the moisture condensation was creating partial discharge on the 22kV switchgear in the substation. TasNetworks approached Roxtec Regional Manager Gary Lee, and through working together, Mr Lee was able to present a […]
Networks NSW CEO, Vince Graham will retire in December after 47 years of service. Networks NSW Chairman, Roger Massy-Greene, said that following Mr Graham’s retirement, the current Deputy Chief Executive Officers at Ausgrid, Mr Trevor Armstrong, and Endeavour Energy, Mr Rod Howard, will be appointed as Acting Chief Executives pending the finalisation of the NSW Government’s lease transaction. A recruitment […]
AGL’s new solar plant in Broken Hill (NSW) has been completed and is now in operation. The last panel of the 677,760 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules was installed on Monday 12 October. The solar plant is now the second largest in Australia, behind its sister solar plant in Nyngan. AGL has confirmed the plant has achieved full capacity, sendings 53 […]
Ausgrid crews have put the final touches on the new Metford zone substation in the New South Wales lower Hunter Valley. The 33/11kV substation has been fitted out with two transformers and space for a third, as the potential for growth in the immediate area is significant. Crews have installed two transformers and the electrical switchgear at the new Metford […]
by Neil Palmer, CEO, National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia Stretching all the way back to 1895, the Mammoth Condenser at Coolgardie, completed by the Public Works Department, was, at the time, the largest in the world and could produce 500kL/d. A condenser was built at Cook on the Trans Australia Railway in 1917 for boiler water. A reverse […]
Western Power has given 30 Western Australian volunteer bush fire brigades a share of $95,000 in grants. The grants will be used to purchase essential equipment needed to prepare for the upcoming fire season. Western Power’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Italiano said the Western Power Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade grants provide support to the brave firefighters who give up their […]
The Government’s Renewable Energy Action Plan has launched a blueprint for the town of Uralla (NSW) to potentially become Australia’s first self-sufficient renewable energy town. Uralla recently saw the launch of the blueprint for what could be Australia’s first renewable energy self-sufficient town. The first town-scale energy blueprint has been developed for Uralla on the NSW Northern Tablelands, with energy […]
Alinta Energy has announced the closure of one of its major power stations. Flinders Operation power station in Port Augusta (SA) will close 31 March 2016. Timing for this closure means that operational mining at Leigh Creek will cease on 17 November 2015 and the Augusta Power Stations plan is to cease generation around 31 March 2016. Alinta Energy CEO, […]
A mobile and spatial technology company has won the Victorian Spatial Excellence Award for Innovation and Commercialisation. Geomatic Technologies (GT) won the award for its unique approach to the Bushfire Safety Clearance Program. The Program is used to assist Victoria’s rural electricity distributors AusNet Services and Powercor Australia to implement efficient methods for measuring conductor separation across hundreds of kilometres […]
AusNet Services is undertaking a large-scale maintenance program on power lines connecting Bairnsdale to Mallacoota (VIC). The shutdowns will give more than 150 line workers safe access to complete almost 400 individual maintenance tasks – a more customer-friendly alternative than multiple weekly shutdowns to finish the critical work before bushfire season. John Wills, AusNet Services’ Customer Support Team Manager in […]
by Mathew Pugh, Director, Hydroflux Industrial But how closely are you monitoring your wastewater discharge costs? The media, with its focus on news for general public consumption, has been full of coverage of the growing cost of electricity. As a consequence, the public in general and managers in most industries in particular are well aware of increases in the cost […]
The notion of a smart electricity network has been around for several decades; but it’s only been in recent years that utilities have developed a more sophisticated approach to the management of their networks. We spoke to Alistair Legge, General Manager, Customer and Technology at United Energy, to learn more about this utility’s approach to making its network smarter, which […]
The University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) has released a set of maps that show possibilities for renewable energy. The maps are part of their ARENA supported mapping project, and draw on sample data from electricity network service providers to show network constraints and planned investment. They are hosted on the Australian Renewable Energy Mapping Infrastructure (AREMI) […]
by Sheri Cleary, Client Relationship Executive, CSC Industry experts all over the world agree – power grids are becoming more complex. They need to be capable of handling various forms of energy, from traditional thermal sources like coal and gas, to newer sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric. They must also support distributed generation and energy-efficient technologies. Most importantly, they […]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has recently provided its final advice to the COAG Energy Council on implementing a shared market protocol to define the language or format of communication between parties using advanced meters. This advice is part of the market-wide energy reform program called Power of Choice, which is facilitating more efficient price signals; allowing customers to […]
Power and Water Corporation’s work on the Leanyer Zone Substation (NT) have been completed earlier than planned. The works connect the substation into the electricity network and the substation is expected to be fully operational in mid-2016. The connection of the new Leanyer Zone Substation began on 26 September and the works were successfully concluded before their projected finish date […]
“The Australian utility market has undergone many changes in the last few years including privatisation, renewable energy push, increase in demand and more compliance – the dynamics are changing rapidly.” Australian Utility week recently spoke to Leo Quinn, Asset Management Consultant, Meridium in an interesting and in-depth interview. In this interview, the company asked Leo to explain how the Connected […]
Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy are asking electricity customers and community groups for their views on proposed network tariffs for 2017-2019. Network tariffs by the poles and wires businesses make up about 40 per cent of an average residential electricity bill. Public consultation opens today and runs until 30 October 2015. Vince Graham, CEO of Networks NSW, said the […]
Weipa Solar Plant (QLD) has successfully commenced commercial operation at Rio Tinto’s Weipa bauxite mine’s processing facilities and the township on the Western Cape York Peninsula. The plant is Australia’s first commercial diesel displacement solar plant. First Solar is the project partner of the Weipa Solar PV owned plant. The Weipa Solar Plant will generate electricity for Rio Tinto’s Weipa […]
Power and Water’s Wadeye Power Station (NT) has entered its final stages of construction, with generation units set to be brought on line from 28 October. The station is a $13.93m project utilising gas as a low emissions and low cost source of power. The construction of the new gas power station will mean that the old diesel power station […]
Commissioning of the newly constructed Marian South zone Substation (QLD) will soon begin, and will power the Marian township and surrounding districts with an improved power supply. Customer Delivery Manager, Chester Brodie, said the newly constructed $16.6 million facility will improve quality and reliability of supply to 621 customers in the area and meet the present and future supply requirements of […]
Power and Water Corporation’s new Leanyer Zone Substation (NT) is currently being connected to the area’s distribution network prior to commissioning works starting. Works at Casuarina Zone Substation will allow for construction of the new 66kV indoor switchroom. These works will take place from 26 September through to 5 October and then 9 to 10 October 2015. A program of […]
A major shift in management will see Western Australian utilities managed by an independent operator. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has been asked to undertake the role of independent energy market operator and independent power system operator in Western Australia (WA). The announcement was made by WA Treasurer and Energy Minister Dr. Mike Nahan, which will see the transfer of electricity system […]
Ergon Energy’s inspections of power poles in the Atherton Tableland (QLD) will be carried out by helicopter to improve the safety and reliability of the electricity network. A helicopter will be flying at low altitudes in the vicinity of Ergon power network assets on the Ravenshoe Feeder taking in the Ravenshoe township, Mount Ronald and Millstream areas. Residents and property […]
The top prize has been awarded to an aircraft-based innovation at the 2015 Queensland Spatial Excellence Awards. Ergon Energy’s Roames aircraft-based laser and imaging geospatial system claimed the award. The innovative new technology received the JM (Mac) Seriser Award for the best of the best in the industry, after earlier being presented with the award for Innovation and Commercialisation. These […]
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