In a landmark achievement for the Queensland-NSW Interconnector (QNI) project, six 90-tonne transformers have arrived on-site and 48 transmission pole structures have been installed in NSW’s North West. Project Director, Dany Gittani, said, “We are excited to see significant progress on this project which will increase the transfer of electricity between the states when needed and provide customers with access […]
Powercor has begun upgrade work to prepare Mildura’s local electricity network for the installation of a new bushfire safety device. Powercor crews have begun upgrading the network to accommodate the installation of a Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) at the Merbein Zone Substation. The works, along with those at the Zone Substation itself, will improve the safety of powerlines […]
Whether you are inspecting insulators, transformers, switch gears or high voltage powerlines, you need to be sure that you spot a problem quickly and early. Partial discharge that goes unchecked can cause blackouts, fires, explosions or death from arc flashes. In addition to the danger that partial discharge poses to human lives and the environment, there is a significant monetary […]
United Energy has rolled out a suite of advanced technology along the Mornington Peninsula, designed to flag potential network faults early and thereby improve power reliability and safety. Crews have installed 22 Early Fault Detection (EFD) devices across parts of the high voltage network in Rosebud and Dromana to protect some of the most bushfire-prone parts of the Peninsula. The […]
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has approved the reimbursement of Endeavour Energy for network recovery costs following the 2019-20 bushfires in New South Wales. The AER has approved a cost pass through application to reimburse Endeavour Energy for replacing powerlines and supporting infrastructure, and restoring services in the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast. AER Chair, Clare Savage, said […]
Hydro Tasmania has selected Lake Cethana as the preferred pumped hydro site for Tasmania, with the project now set to progress to the final feasibility stage. Tasmania is fortunate to have a topography that supports potential pumped hydro development. To this end, pumped hydro opportunities at Lake Cethana and Lake Rowallan in Tasmania’s North West and another near Tribute Power […]
Electricity distributor United Energy is rolling out a $1.7 million program to reduce fire risks and boost power reliability by incorporating new technology into parts of the electricity network. United Energy has started replacing 5.1km of high-voltage powerlines with covered conductor technology across the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, with 2.9km set to be complete by Christmas 2020. The conductors cover […]
The Federal and Victorian Governments have announced that they will jointly underwrite early works to advance the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West project – with a preferred route known as KerangLink – so that it can be delivered by 2027. VNI West will deliver an extra 1,800MW of capacity during peak demand periods, help lower prices and […]
Powerlink has partnered with the Bureau of Meteorology to inform Queensland’s transmission network decision-making with better weather-based planning. Powerlink Chief Executive, Paul Simshauser, said the innovative partnership signalled Powerlink’s commitment to working with the bureau over the next three years to access specialised knowledge and data, and deliver targeted research. “This partnership will give Powerlink insights into weather data, models […]
Electricity distributor United Energy has completed a project to underground powerlines as part of a $265,000 investment to improve safety and reliability in one of the highest risk bushfire areas along the Mornington Peninsula. Specialist crews moved almost 600m of high voltage lines underground along Valley Views Lane in Main Ridge. At the site, there are at least 55 large […]
Powerlink is engaging low-flying helicopters to carry out maintenance inspections of transmission lines Southern Queensland during October through to November. Powerlink’s specialist crews will carry out this work across the region including areas covering: Benarkin North, Crossdale, Harlin, Kinnoul, Linville, Maidenwell, Moore, Somerset Dam, South Nanango, Taromeo, Wivenhoe Pocket and Yarraman where Powerlink’s network is located. Powerlink said these inspections […]
Essential Energy has launched the digital mapping app, Look Up and Live, across its network to improve safety for anyone working around or near the utility’s overhead infrastructure. Look Up and Live has made free overhead powerline locations and imagery available to the public online, via an interactive geospatial map. The app provides the ability to search locations in real […]
Powercor is undergrounding 15km of powerlines west of Geelong to improve electricity infrastructure safety as part of its extensive bushfire mitigation program. The high voltage lines at Paraparap are located in one of the state’s highest-risk bushfire areas. Powercor crews are replacing poles and overhead wires along parts of Grays Road, Flaxbournes Road, Nortons Road, Forest Road and Portreath Road. […]
Powerlink has completed a $42 million project to refit the Collinsville to Proserpine transmission line to power homes and businesses in the Whitsunday region. Energy Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, said Queensland’s publicly owned electricity company Powerlink had completed the project, supporting 116 jobs. “This investment will help sustain the region’s local economy – one of Queensland’s major tourism hubs – […]
AusNet Services has commenced community consultation on the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project. Described as Victoria’s most critical transmission network project in three decades, it aims to deliver clean and affordable energy to customers across the state. When fully operational in 2025, the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project will see approximately 190km of overhead transmission line and infrastructure constructed, substantially […]
The Federal Government has announced that the Marinus Link is one of several priority projects to be fast-tracked under the JobMaker plan. Marinus Link, a second interconnector between Tasmania and the mainland, would unlock Tasmania’s renewable energy potential. In a speech to the National Press Club, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, cited that fast-tracking the project would assist Australia’s recovery from […]
In 2019, Jemena distributed 4,229GWh of electricity to 354,452 customer sites across Victoria via 6,600km of overhead and underground powerlines. Zinfra played a significant role in Jemena’s network performance, commencing the delivery of the operations and maintenance contract on the Jemena Electricity Network (JEN) at the end of 2018, which has reinforced Zinfra’s position as Australia’s leading provider of field […]
After this summer’s record-breaking bushfire season, businesses, community groups and the Royal Commission have started to discuss the next steps to ensure we are not unprepared for next year. From that, one key consideration that utility providers need to take into account is excess vegetation close to powerlines and the role it potentially plays in sparking and exasperating these fires. […]
Ausgrid has launched a new social media campaign to request the public’s support for its staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ausgrid said the campaign was launched after its crews had been abused almost daily in past weeks for continuing to carry out critical work during the pandemic. Ausgrid has created a short film to kick-off the ‘Give us a Wave’ […]
The final stage of the Queensland-New South Wales Interconnector (QNI) has been approved by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). The AER said that supporting NSW businesses and households in avoiding energy bill increases was a key factor in its decision, particularly with the recent closure of the Liddell Power Station. The TransGrid project, with input from Powerlink, involves upgrades to […]
An electricity distributor’s program to mitigate bushfire risk is undergoing testing to improve the safety of the area’s energy network. Powercor is installing Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter devices (REFCLs) at the Ballarat North and Ballarat South zone substations. The devices operate in a similar way to a large safety switch on the network and are designed to minimise the […]
Critical infrastructure calls for critical equipment. Cybertec cellular modems are trusted by the Australian utilities sector for their reliability, rugged build and ease of use. The Cybertec 2255X is utilised and favoured by utility providers Australia-wide. Cybertec cellular modems have been deployed and trusted in the Australian utility sector for well over a decade. There is good reason for their […]
The Queensland NSW Interconnector (QNI) upgrade project will advance to the next stage after clearing a major review from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). The AER announced it had approved the Regulatory investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) on 30 March 2020. This determination supports the options assessment, costs and net benefits of the QNI project. The $230 million QNI upgrade […]
The Federal Government, through the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), has set out reasonable expectations of energy companies in an effort to safeguard householders and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian energy industry has responded to the expectations and is banding together to meet its obligations. The AER’s Statement of Expectations sets out a range measures, including: Waiving any […]
Energy Networks Australia has stressed that the uncertainty wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic makes preventative maintenance more crucial than ever. The industry body highlighted that these works were essential to protect lives, prevent damage to properties and keep the power on for the future. Energy Networks Australia released a video explaining why the critical maintenance of planned outages is needed to ensure […]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published three milestone reports detailing its progress to deliver access reforms to Australia’s energy grid. The reforms fall under the Coordination of Generation and Transmission Investment (COGATI) review. Reforming the way generators access the grid remains critical to the future of the National Electricity Market (NEM) and represents the cheapest, fastest and fairest […]
The Granville Harbour Wind Farm will capitalise on Tasmania’s enviable wind potential while helping the state achieve its target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2022. Zinfra, one of Australia’s leading utility infrastructure service providers, was responsible for designing and constructing the transmission line connecting the wind farm to the grid, giving the wind farm a physical connection to […]
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has approved the SA-NSW Interconnector, which will deliver cheaper, cleaner and more reliable electricity to South Australian households and businesses. According to the AER, the interconnector project satisfies the regulatory investment test for transmission (RIT-T), which demonstrates the project will deliver benefits to energy consumers. Construction can now commence on the interconnector, which is expected […]
Energy Queensland has 1.7 million power poles and over 225,000km of overhead and underground powerlines across Queensland. Unfortunately, powerlines are accidentally contacted by workers all too frequently, which can result in severe and sometimes fatal injuries. Ergon Energy and Energex, as part of Energy Queensland, have developed a lifesaving tool to help improve safety around powerlines, that was formally recognised […]
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