The Federal and Northern Territory Governments are investing millions into helping deliver essential services such as access to clean drinking water and reliable power to remote communities. A $17.5 million investment made by the Federal Government, with $9.1 million from the Northern Territory will see two critical projects built in two remote communities across the territory whilst $92.8 million is […]
Features
How an energy audit paved the road to renewables for a Victorian dairy farm
Patricia Mae Tagabe Electricity, Features, Irrigation, Solar, Sustainability 0Sandra Jefford and Wilco Droppert own and operate Wilandra Farms, an organic dairy farm in the Gippsland region of Victoria. However, despite the farm’s success, its irrigation and dairy operations were using about 500,000kWh of energy per year. Energy costs were high and irrigating the farm was a costly and time-consuming process. In 2019, the couple sought an energy audit […]
Bright future for Alice Springs’ transition to renewable power
Patricia Mae Tagabe Batteries & Storage, Electricity, Features, Renewable Energy, Solar 0By Steph Barker, Journalist, Utility Magazine The Alice Springs Future Grid Project is a whole-of-systems project that aims to roadmap how Alice Springs can achieve 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030. The $12.5 million project involves collaboration by multiple organisations from across the Northern Territory and Australia, and its purpose is to identify and overcome barriers to further renewable […]
Yarra Valley water’s trenchless technology innovator explores critical innovations
Utility Journalist Features, Pipelines, Projects, Renewable Energy, Trenchless technology, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0By Ash Hamer, Major Projects Manager, Yarra Valley Water, and Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology’s Young Person of the Year 2022 The trenchless industry is an essential part of delivering infrastructure for Yarra Valley Water customers. Its assets (mainly sewer mains) have been getting larger and more complex over the past decade due to population growth. Here, Yarra Valley Water’s […]
How to get Australia back in the global hydrogen race
Utility Journalist Electricity, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0By Dr Fiona Simon, CEO, Australian Hydrogen Council As the world-wide discussion shifts towards clean energy and hydrogen, Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council, explains how Australia can rejoin the hydrogen race and what it can do that will have an immediate impact on the Australian hydrogen industry. Since the release of the National Hydrogen Strategy in November […]
The next generation of energy storage
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Civil Construction, Digital Utilities, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0By Shane Rattenbury, Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction ACT has become a leader in energy storage with the successful completion of the Next Generation Energy Storage program and investment in large-scale batteries. The ACT is electrifying and shifting to a zero emissions future. Creating a strong and stable distributed energy system is a critical focus for this work. […]
Smart water metering: business transformational, not just remote meter reading
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Smart meters, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0When examining a Smart Water Metering (SWM) project, the initial focus is often the smart meter, communications and meter management software. However, Taggle Systems has found long-term project and business success is driven by other considerations. Sure, within a SWM project the meter metrology, battery life, telemetry and ultimately the data delivery by the Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS) are […]
Toowoomba Council turns the tap on for smart water meters
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Safety and Training, Smart meters, Sustainability, Water 0Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is in the process of implementing an automated water meter reading system that helps conserve water, supports operations and improves the customer service experience for its customers throughout the region. External consultants were engaged, a proof of concept trial was undertaken and in March 2023, the first of the smart water meters were installed. As a […]
The power of vegetation management in the red centre
Utility Journalist Asset management, Disaster Management, Electricity, Features, Maintenance, Projects, Safety and Training 0Vegetation management is a vital part of helping to protect the Alice Springs community from the impacts of severe weather. You might not expect wild storms, gusty winds and heavy rains in the desert regions of Central Australia, yet they occur frequently during late spring and summer. The storms can cause significant destruction, and the town of Alice Springs – […]
Vegetation management that’s ahead of the pack
Utility Journalist Asset management, Electricity, Features, Maintenance, Powerlines, Projects, Sponsored Editorial 0Meeting strict and increasingly complex regulatory requirements is perhaps one of the greatest challenges faced by most modern utilities. The inherently high-risk nature of the sector means it is highly regulated across a number of facets, with vegetation management being an area requiring particular attention. Meeting the challenge of adhering to vegetation regulatory requirements is too complex a task to […]
Spacers assisting with corrosion management
Utility Journalist Asset management, Features, Maintenance, Pipelines, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0All pipelines are exposed to a range of physical, climatic and chemical elements that can cause corrosion. This is often exacerbated in harsh environments, where pipelines are exposed to high salt levels or extreme temperatures that can accelerate the rate of decay. Ignoring the effects of corrosion can be costly for asset owners, and planning for corrosion control and mitigation […]
Boosting security for telecommunication assets
Utility Journalist Asset management, Cyber Security, Digital Utilities, Features, Maintenance, Retail, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Stakeholder Engagement, Telecommunications 0Working with leading telecommunication provider Optus, Spectur has delivered surveillance solutions to protect critical assets from theft and vandalism. After three years of partnering together, Optus and Spectur will extend their collaboration to boost security for vulnerable telecommunication assets and support Optus’s commitment to strengthening mobile network security. Optus has updated its Statement of Works with Spectur through an existing […]
Concrete solutions for Australia’s future pipelines
Tess Macallan Asset management, Civil Construction, Features, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Aging infrastructure and rising sewerage temperatures pose increasing risks for corrosion of concrete sewerage pipes around the world. Failing pipes are a significant threat to utility operations, public health and the environment. However, there could soon be a solution. Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of South Australia STEM, Yan Zhuge, is leading a project focused on a self-healing […]
How Qld’s largest sewer was upgraded while the city slept
Katie Livingston Asset management, Features, Irrigation, Maintenance, Pipelines, Projects, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Over 100 years since its inception, Brisbane’s S1 Main Sewer underwent an ambitious seven-year upgrade. By harnessing the power of innovation, Urban Utilities and its delivery partner, Interflow, have given new life to a hidden but essential piece of infrastructure. Deep under Brisbane’s bustling CBD lies the city’s oldest and largest sewer pipeline. Averaging 1.5m in diameter, the S1 Main […]
Increasing Australia’s digital capabilities and sustainability
Katie Livingston Asset management, Civil Construction, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, Projects, Retail, Sponsored Editorial 0NBN Co is taking action to address the inherent risks climate change poses to its operations, network continuity and service obligations. By embedding sustainability in all its activities, it aims to deliver on its purpose to lift the digital capability of Australia, while enabling long-term social, economic and environmental value for all stakeholders. The company has committed to a target […]
In this modern age, women’s career aspirations have changed, and what used to be a man’s world is now an industry that benefits from people of all genders working together. Programmed has been taking steps to increase the representation of women in leadership roles and encourage equal representation within trades sectors. The company is proud to see exceptional women thriving […]
Gippsland Water powers towards a 100 per cent renewable future
Utility Journalist Asset management, Civil Construction, Features, Pipelines, Projects, Pumps, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Gippsland Water’s latest $3 million project sees the utility switching on more than 2,000 solar panels at its largest wastewater treatment plant, the Gippsland Water Factory in Morwell. The site treats 20 million litres of wastewater from nine towns and major industries each day, servicing the needs of more than 48,000 customers and 300 local businesses. The latest solar panel […]
The equipment making vegetation management sustainable
Utility Journalist Asset management, Disaster Management, Features, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Asset management is a key responsibility of utilities across Australia, and arguably the most important and critical of these is vegetation and tree clearing around powerlines. Vermeer’s range of equipment offers sustainable vegetation management choices for utilities, and recycling options for project byproducts. These days, individuals and organisations are being urged to consider their choices and make decisions with sustainability […]
Overcoming challenges in Port Melbourne network augmentation project
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Features, Maintenance, News, Pipelines, Projects, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0A new innovation precinct in Fishermans Bend is set to position Victoria as a global leader in engineering, manufacturing and design. However, before the redevelopment work could start, there was the complex task of augmenting the existing power network. Daly’s Constructions had to innovate to combat weak ground conditions, traffic management constraints and to navigate 150 existing underground services. The […]
Unitywater on a green path to achieve sustainability goals
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Irrigation, Pipelines, Pumps, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0With a growing population, a changing climate and the desire to improve the liveability of South East Queensland front of mind, Unitywater has harnessed the power of science, technology and Mother Nature to implement key infrastructure projects that will help reduce the utility’s operating footprint. Unitywater Executive Manager Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions, Daniel Lambert, expands on some of the projects and […]
Endeavour Energy pioneers innovation with its digital twin
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Electricity, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0Millions of people in Sydney’s Greater West and beyond rely on Endeavour Energy to provide a safe and reliable electricity supply around the clock. To combat the challenging conditions of the region’s harsh environment – subject to heat waves, flooding, drought and wildfires – Endeavour Energy has embraced technology and dramatically improved customer outcomes after it became the first electricity […]
Virtual asset assessment: digital intelligence solving network challenges
Utility Journalist Asset management, Digital Utilities, Disaster Management, Features, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Projects, Renewable Energy, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability 0Utilities across Australia and the globe are increasingly turning to the potential of digital data and digital intelligence to assess the condition of assets. The use of digital technologies and data analytics is disrupting traditional business models, changing the way linear assets are designed, built, inspected, and operated. The COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements, and regulatory changes, as well as the […]
Augment vegetation management with satellite imagery
Utility Journalist Asset management, Digital Utilities, Features, Maintenance, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0From roads and railways to power lines and pipelines, encroaching vegetation can cause downtime, damage and catastrophes. Utility vegetation management remains a huge line item in most annual budgets, involving manual inspection of thousands of infrastructure miles. But it’s mainly reactive maintenance, leaving very little focus on prevention. Satellite technology provides a great opportunity to augment existing methods, offering more […]
Benefits and challenges of renewable transmission line sensors
Mikayla Bridge Electricity, Features, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing major funding to help New South Wales Transgrid and Infravision trial sensors that will increase capacity to support renewable energy and improve the efficiency of existing transmission lines. Utility spoke with Dan Sturrock, ARENA’s Director in Business Development & Transactions, to discuss the project’s opportunities and challenges. The critical trial will involve […]
Building trust, driving innovation, and delivering value in the water sector
Utility Journalist Digital Utilities, Features, Pipelines, Projects, Pumps, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0By Ryan Collins & Kareen Moraes, Graduate Engineers from Greater Western Water On 23 February, 2023, 180 people from across the water industry joined together for the second SWAN Asia-Pacific Alliance Workshop in Melbourne. SWAN – the Smart Water Networks Forum – is the leading global hub for the smart water sector. The event drew in utility and industry experts […]
Procuring innovative water asset management technology
Utility Journalist Asset management, Digital Utilities, Features, Pipelines, Projects, Pumps, Renewable Energy, Sponsored Editorial, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The key to Australian water utilities dealing with the impacts of climate change is the use of innovative technology in water and wastewater treatment and management. Procuring the right technology for your utility’s specific operations is essential to bring sustainability and innovation goals from ideas to reality. By introducing sustainable management strategies into an asset’s entire lifecycle, utilities can ensure […]
Everything you need to know about sodium hypochlorite in water treatment
Utility Journalist Asset management, Disaster Management, Features, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0One key component of the water treatment process is the disinfection of water, which is often achieved through the use of sodium hypochlorite. Although it is a powerful disinfectant, it is also highly reactive. This article explores how sodium hypochlorite is used in water treatment plants, best practices for storing it, and guidelines for safe handling. Sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO) is […]
Keeping water services flowing amid rare river flood
Katie Livingston Disaster Management, Features, Irrigation, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0This past summer, communities along the River Murray in South Australia experienced flooding not seen in decades. Harnessing a combination of proactive planning, extensive infrastructure assessments and a hands-on community engagement approach, SA Water was able to largely maintain essential services throughout this generational natural event, including an uninterrupted drinking water supply. Peaking at around 190GL per day at the […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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