Australian Power and Energy News Vol20 No103 September 2016

Redmond Gary

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Australia Pty. Ltd

Please see our Editorial and Advertisement on Pages 4 and 5

Please see our Editorial and Advertisement on Page 3

VOL. 20 NO. 103 - September 2016

Print Post No. PP100000928

All enquiries phone: +61 7 5478 9432 Email Enquiries: apen@worldpacific.com.au

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Powercor delivers Ararat Terminal Station and associated 22km transmission line linking Ararat Wind Farm to the National Power Grid See Full Story on Page 20

Special Feature - Pages 10-19

Ararat Terminal Station

Queensland electricity industry collaborates on renewable generation

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EPRESENTATIVES of the Queensland electricity industry recently gathered to discuss the future of the transmission network and the role it will play in supporting large-scale renewable generation.

More than 100 customer, consumer and industry representatives attended the Powerlink Transmission Network Forum in July to gain an insight into future energy and demand forecasts, network development and future investments.

A key discussion topic was how the transmission network could support the development of large-scale renewable generation, with Powerlink outlining its ‘clustering’ model for shared assets designed to reduce connection infrastructure costs.

Powerlink Chief Executive Merryn York said the transmission network would play an important role in reaching a lower carbon future at the lowest possible cost.

“Contributing towards a renewable energy economy is a key focus for Powerlink, with the transmission network to play an important role in facilitating new, large-scale renewable and low emissions generation,” Ms York said.

“To drive economies of scale, Powerlink has investigated a ‘clustering model’ which could see the development of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs).

“Powerlink have mapped its network to identify potential areas where there is both existing network capacity combined with high solar radiation levels.

“These zones would allow multiple largescale renewable generator proponents to connect to the existing network through ‘shared assets’, reducing infrastructure costs.

“Powerlink’s research shows that the Queensland transmission network is well positioned to accommodate sizeable quantities of new renewable generation without impacting on network stability.”

Ms York said the forum was an important event to discuss the future of the transmission network in Queensland.

“The forum brings together industry leaders to enable important discussions about a range of topics including large-scale renewable generation, area planning and non-network solutions,” Ms York said.

“We received great input from participants that will improve our decision-making and ensure we continue to provide a safe, cost effective and reliable supply of electricity across Queensland.”

Above and below: Industry representatives, customers and consumers gather at the Powerlink Transmission Network Forum

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N Tuesday 26 July, ActewAGL hosted a free workshop for local community organisations to help them seek, secure and leverage much needed sponsorship funds.

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ActewAGL helps community organisations secure vital funding

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Representatives from 47 organisations including junior sporting clubs, elite sporting teams, art institutions, charities, community groups, festivals and industry associations travelled from Queanbeyan, Yass, Young, Bungendore and Canberra to take up the development opportunity at ActewAGL House.

ActewAGL Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Paul Walshe said he hopes the workshop has provided the groups with the additional tools and resources necessary to secure new sponsorships and retain current partnerships. “We have a lot in common with these organisations because we’re all focused on supporting the local community.

Seeking sponsorship can be a challenging and competitive activity and we want to give them the best chance to secure it.”

The workshop was facilitated by Richard Woodward, a leading expert who has worked on both sides of sponsorship and held positions in sales, marketing and business development in Australia and the United Kingdom for KPMG, Sydney Opera House and Commonwealth Bank.

National Press Club Marketing and Sales Manager Cathy Bryson attended the workshop on Tuesday. “It’s awesome to have the opportunity to connect with other people that are doing the same thing as you in town and also great that ActewAGL has brought in

someone like Richard to share his knowledge, learnings and experience.”

Young Show Society Secretary Sam Reynolds travelled in for the workshop and commented on why an event like this is important for her organisation. “It helps smaller organisations like ours to understand the best approach to take when approaching people for sponsorship so I’ve found it really valuable.”

Canberra Rugby League Referees Association Executive Officer Chris Nightingale commented on his experience at the workshop. “Today has been very interesting; it’s kind of opened my eyes. You tend to become a little stale after doing the same things year after year so today has been good to reinvigorate our approach.”

When asked about the value of sponsorship to their organisation, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled CEO Jane Thomson said, “Sponsorships are very important to our organisation. We have a lot of events and we’re always trying to run things on a shoelace so that sponsorship dollar gives us the funds to run those events and hopefully the event can make money as well.”

All attendees walked away with a tool kit and had the opportunity to network with other sponsored organisations from the local region.

“There are a lot of great local organisations with really passionate people who make sure our kids can play junior sport, our community can enjoy fantastic events, and those who need a helping hand get the support they need. We’ll always get behind these organisations to support the important role they play in our community and it’s great to hear that the workshop has given them some useful tools to secure future sponsorships,” said Paul.

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Head Office: 14 Merriman Court, Palmwoods QLD 4555 Postal Address: PO Box 1176, MOOLOOLABA QLD 4557 Telephone: (07) 5478 9432 • Facsimile: (07) 5445 9431 Email: apen@worldpacific.com.au Web: www.amrcn.com.au (Click on ‘Other Publications’) Page 2 - Australian Power & Energy News

Above: Guests from 47 local organisations attended the free ActewAGL Sponsorship Workshop on Tuesday 26 July

New High Voltage Basket to Suit TF17M

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EDMOND Gary Australia introduced the TL17M in late 2014.

The MEWP is manufactured using advanced composite DuraComp 40 and features a basket with high voltage rating (no liner required), which means the weight of the liner is not added to the basket load, giving an increase in basket capacity of 55kg (the weight of the liner) for glove and barrier MEWPs.

The successful introduction of the MEWP has lead to many of our existing customers wanting to know if the new DuraComp 40 basket could be fitted to the old model TF17M with rotary basket. The engineering team were able to integrate the high voltage basket into

the TF17M and after the design and drawings were complete, the basket was tested for overload, lanyard attachment, control descent device attachment points to AS1418.10 2011.

In addition, the basket rim anchor points are rated to 90kg each. The new retro fit basket includes all the same features as the TL17M basket, namely high voltage rating, internal and external steps, internal lanyard attachment points without the need for covers and universal tool point rated to lift 160kg at 600mm radius and take side load of up to 70kg.

The first authority to order the new basket is Zinfra, who are based in Melbourne. The new high voltage basket will be included as part of a 10 year major inspection. The first unit will be installed by Redmond Gary Australia and type

Redmond Gary

tested. This is a good option for equipment owners to consider when completing the 10 year major inspection. As part of the kit, all of the upgraded decals are supplied along with new basket slew bearing and basket under cover.

The new high voltage basket is electrically tested and issued with a certificate by Energex NATA test facility. In addition to the advantages already detailed, DuraComp 40 is far stronger than standard fibreglass construction, is far more durable and will not absorb moisture like standard baskets. If the gelcoat is damaged there is no need to repair it immediately as it will not affect the basket insulation. Repair can be carried out during the next scheduled service to save unplanned down-time.

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Please contact Redmond Gary Spare Parts Department for more details and quotation for this basket retro-fit.

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Web: www.rg.com.au Australian Power & Energy News - Page 3

Clever Composite Poles Pass Every test A.C. Whalan Composites Pty Ltd has been proving how much smarter its composite utility poles are for the last few years and it’s not difficult to see why they are rapidly becoming the preferred option in the delivery of power to the consumer. The CSIRO is the latest in a long line of regulatory bodies to approve this great Australian product and the company’s composite pole continues to pass every test.

One of the main benefits of the A.C. Whalan’s composite pole is the dramatic reduction in installation and maintenance costs when compared to traditional timber poles. This cost saving begins at the point of installation and continues throughout the much longer life of the composite pole.

The ease of installation is also a huge logistical advantage, particularly when expanding or replacing network infrastructure in rough terrain and those hard to reach places.

For instance, A.C Whalan’s composite poles are currently being installed in the Snowy Mountains without the use of heavy equipment or the need for a track or road to be carved out to access the location.

It’s simply a case of a 4WD utility and a small ground crew and within no time at all the pole is up and ready to be ‘networked’.

ActewAGL and Essential Energy are two energy providers who have already signed extensive contracts with A.C. Whalan for its composite utility poles.

Both companies are environmentally proactive and their network switch to the composite pole, not only provides a better ‘network image’ but is more in tune with the environment. Cost wise, it’s a very smart move.

Once installed, the ongoing life costs of the composite pole are negligible when compared to the traditional timber pole and it will last a lot longer in Australia’s extreme climate.

Critically, in a land where bushfires often strike, the composite pole is a winner and far more likely to maintain the security of supply due to its resistance to fire and pests. It’s a wonder that composite poles aren’t mandatory in bushfire prone areas. There’s always a potential for litigation due to the inherent weakness of timber utility poles when stuck by lightning.

Recently, the CSIRO rigorously tested A.C. Whalan’s composite poles specifically for their ability to withstand bush fires and large flaming sources. The poles passed the test with flying colours in accordance with Australian Standards (AS) 1530.8.1.

Mind you, these composite poles have passed many tests since their inception and there is a good reason for that success.

In developing an Australian utility pole to comply and withstand Australian conditions, A.C Whalan Composites began the design process by consulting extensively with Australian utility providers.

During this stage the team from A.C. Whalan covered a multitude of logistical requirements. These included climatic conditions faced; the types of terrain encountered; the physical pressures endured by transmission structures and the various pole lengths required by the power and energy sector.

The end result is a utility pole that, not only conforms to the needs of the energy sector, but one that has been developed to withstand Australia’s tough and diverse environmental conditions.

Fire resistant materials are a big plus in the frontline defence against a raging bushfire and a nonconductive structure is the preferred option when it stands between the earth and a bolt of lightning that’s about to strike.

Unlike old fashioned timber, A.C. Whalan’s composite poles are constructed from fire retardant laminates and the company put that feature to the test with a simulated bushfire attack, producing a large flaming source to do its best on the composite pole but to no avail.

Apart from CSIRO testing, Californian brush fire tests were conducted along with all required fire resistant tests in accordance with Australian Standards (AS) 1530.8.2. The results proved that A.C. Whalan’s composite poles are made of the

right stuff when facing the challenges of Australia’s bushfire prone environment.

As for lightning? A.C. Whalan’s composite poles are inert and non-conductive, a system which was successfully proven to be the case having undergone extensive testing at Ergon Energy’s dedicated testing facility.

The range of tests included Leakage Current Lightning Impulse and 50Hz Flashover. The results of all the tests confirmed the superb quality of the composite pole and throughout the process the structural integrity of the pole remained unaffected.

The results of the Ergon Energy tests are available from A.C. Whalan on request.

Corrosion is a by-product of our climate and Australia also has more than its fair share of termites.

Fortunately, and in the interests of keeping the power flowing, Aussie termites don’t like A.C. Whalan’s composite pole at all and for those indulgent creatures it’s a big turn off. The composite pole doesn’t suit their tastes and its ingredients include Vinyl Ester Resin, so it’s resistant to caustic alkalis and hypochlorite bleaching chemicals which also eliminates the potential for corrosion.

A.C. Whalan’s composite poles are environmentally friendly and there are no toxic preservatives used in the manufacturing process to leach out into the soil or ground water when the pole is installed.

Perhaps one of the most important benefits in a variable economic climate where money can be too tight to mention is that the dollars matter. Every dollar spent, particularly in the power and energy sector where poles and wires are critical, must achieve a greater return than the initial investment.

This is where A.C. Whalan’s composite poles really stand tall with a much longer life expectancy than your average timber pole and they are extremely cost effective.

The composite poles are manufactured from epoxy vinyl ester resins with UV Stabilisers added to the outside barrier of the pole. This is important as the use of UV Stabilisers preserves the life of the poles way beyond the life expectancy of traditional timber poles.

The A.C. Whalan composite poles based on US and European manufacturing data and related studies have a life expectancy of around 70 to 80 years.

A.C. Whalan’s composite poles are manufactured in a cylindrical taper shape similar to the timber pole

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so they are compatible with all current associated hardware such as cross arms and bolt-on foot pegs.

It means that timber pole networks can be gradually replaced by the composite pole over a period of time as existing fitments can be attached using similar methods as used for the traditional timber pole.

As for installation itself, the composite pole is much easier to handle being on average around 40% lighter than the equivalent rated timber pole. The erection methodology is very similar to the timber pole but due to its lightweight construction, where access is restricted or difficult due to the terrain, the composite pole is a much easier proposition.

Furthermore, smaller plant and equipment can be used in the installation process which leaves a much reduced work site footprint and reduces the impact on surrounding public areas. The ease of handling and installation minimises traffic disruption with less requirement for lengthy road or lane closures.

Due to its lighter weight, transport to the site is also far more cost effective and the composite poles can be stored and handled in much the same way as timber poles, other than the use of nylon straps to protect the surface of the pole instead of the traditional chains and dogs.

From its NSW base at Mt Thorley, A.C. Whalan manufactures composite utility poles in various configurations using the filament winding process.

The poles can be made as a 12.5 metre one piece or as a two piece to provide a variety of lengths for 9.5 metres up to a 28 metre configuration.

The production process provides a textured surface finish in grey but the poles can be coloured to suit the client’s requests.

A.C. Whalan Composites is an ISO 9001 accredited manufacturer and quality control is assured. The company uses state of the art Filament Winding machines with Siemens controllers in combination with CADWIND and with such finite accuracy A.C. Whalan can guarantee the quality and consistency of every pole produced in accordance with AS/NZZS 4676.2000 Structural Design Requirements for utility service poles.

For more information about A.C. Whalan’s composite utility poles visit; www.acwcomposites.com.au Or, email the team at; composites@acwhalan.com.au or call 02 6574 6012

N E W G E N E R AT I O N O F A U S T R A L I A N M A D E U T I L I T Y P O L E S The Advantages of the Composite Pole System Lightweight The composite pole is on average 40% lighter than the equivalent rated timber pole.

the CSIRO to AS 1530. 8.1 BAL40 simulating bushfire attack and large flaming source fires.

Hardware & Fitment The composite pole is constructed from Vinyl Ester Resin giving it resistance to Caustic Alkalis, Hypochlorite Bleaching Chemicals and high temperatures and termites.

The Composite poles are manufactured in a cylindrical taper shape similar to the timber pole. This means that all current hardware such as cross arms & bolt on foot pegs and their fitment to the pole will be done the same way or using a similar method.

Cost Efficient Installation

Transport & Storage

The composite pole is installed in similar fashion to the timber pole, however, being lighter it is more cost effective to install in those applications with access restrictions.

Composite poles can be transported, stored & handled in the same way timber poles are, with consideration taken to protect the surface of the pole. This simply means nylon straps in place of chains & dogs. Because the composite poles are lighter in weight, transport costs become more efficient.

Corrosion & Termite Resistant

Non-Conductive System The composite pole is inert and the structure is non-conductive. Our poles have successfully undergone testing at Ergon Energy results are available upon request.

Fire Resistant The poles are constructed from fire retardant laminates.

A. C Whalan Composite Poles have been fire tested by

Life Expectancy Composite poles based on US & European manufacturers’ data & studies have a life expectancy of 70-80 years. Combined with the other advantages of fire, corrosion, termite, rot resistance & lower transportation cost, the composite poles installed cost becomes extremely competitive.

A. C Whalan Composites Pty Ltd Lot 101 Maskey Road, Mt Thorley NSW 2330 Mobile: 0417 746 811 | Phone: +61 2 6574 6012 | Fax: +61 2 6574 6422 Email: composites@acwhalan.com.au www.acwcomposites.com.au Australian Power & Energy News - Page 5

Review of tree trimming guidelines Ausgrid has established a community stakeholder working group to help review tree trimming guidelines and shape its future engagement on vegetation management.

A notification process will also be introduced to let people know when tree trimming crews will be working in their street, after a trial of the best way to inform customers.

General Manager of Asset Management, John Hardwick, said the initiatives followed a detailed review of stakeholder and customer views on tree trimming.

“We understand that trees are an integral part of the streetscapes across our network area, from Sydney’s south to the Upper Hunter,” Mr Hardwick said.

“Through our initial engagement program, it’s clear that our customers and communities want us to dedicate more time and resources to improving the way we manage vegetation.

“They also want to be kept informed and to see us partner with councils to manage the impact of trees planted underneath powerlines.”

Mr Hardwick said tree trimming issues generally arose when inappropriate, fastgrowing species were planted underneath the electricity network.

“We have a legal obligation and a responsibility to make sure branches are not growing too close to powerlines.

“This is to protect the safety of our crews and the public, and to stop trees contacting powerlines and causing blackouts. We are also concerned about the risk of children climbing trees close to live wires.

“Historically, in many areas across our network, inappropriate species have been planted on nature strips directly below powerlines.

“These are trees which can grow up to 25 metres high and are now encroaching on live wires in thousands of locations. It can be very hard to achieve a visually pleasing result when trimming these trees around the network.

“We are committed to working more closely with councils and the community on ways to manage these issues safely.”

More information, including an engagement report, is at ausgrid.com.au/yoursayontrees

Key facts • Ausgrid supplies electricity to more than 1.6 million homes and businesses from Sydney’s south, west to Auburn and north to Port Stephens and the Upper Hunter.

• Our network includes more than 500,000 power poles and almost 50,000 kilometres of above and below ground cables.

• Ausgrid’s tree trimming program is carried out by contractors and costs about $40 million a year.

• Pruning is regularly inspected by contract and Ausgrid arborists for compliance with industry and Australian standards.

• Ausgrid carried out an initial community engagement program on tree trimming from September to November 2015, including stakeholder interviews, an online survey, industry benchmarking, social media posts and pop-up engagement stands.

• An external report on the program found that Ausgrid should: - Develop a dedicated vegetation management engagement program - Establish a vegetation management notification process - Engage stakeholders in a review - Review accessibility of information - Develop a framework to assess alternative vegetation management proposals - Establish a service charter and - Implement an awareness campaign • Ausgrid has accepted all these recommendations and is working to embed them in an ongoing community engagement plan.

Above: Aerial Access elevated work platform used extensively for tree trimming and vegetation programs

Merriwa power line replacement Ausgrid’s upgrades to the electricity network around Merriwa, Baerami and Sandy Hollow in NSW’s Upper Hunter are continuing with the replacement of high voltage powerlines which supply Merriwa zone substation.

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The 33,000 volt powerlines run 48 kilometres between Denman and Merriwa and were installed in the 1960s.

This power line supplies the Merriwa zone substation and, while it has served the area well, it is now time for it to be replaced.

The work is happening in sections as crews make their way along the 48 kilometres of powerline.

This replacement work is needed to make sure we can continue to provide a safe and reliable power supply to Merriwa and surrounding areas.

The local network has performed well over the years, but it is now time to for it to be replaced to help maintain a safe and reliable power supply to 1400 home and business connections.

The powerline replacement is part of ongoing work which is happening in stages to minimise disruption to residents.

To do this work safely, crews must interrupt the power supply to local homes and business.

It is expected there will be six interruptions to the power supply over the next 12 months as crews progress along the power line route. Many of the outages are scheduled for Sundays or during school holidays.

New dual circuit improves power reliability

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SSENTIAL Energy has switched on a new high voltage powerline from Hallidays Point to Possum Brush to improve power supply reliability and capacity to the Forster-Tuncurry area to cater for future growth.

The 66,000 volt powerline provides an alternative power supply to the new Hallidays Point zone substation and is designed to deliver up to double the capacity as future need requires.

Project Manager Major Projects, Glenn Potter, said construction of the four kilometre dual circuit powerline had taken about four months to complete.

“The new dual circuit lines have the capability to connect with the larger 132,000 volt transmission network if future load levels increase which allows us to upgrade the capacity of the Hallidays Zone substation,” Glenn said.

Aerial Access - More than EWP Manufacturers

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HEN most people think of Aerial Access Australia, they think of Versalift Elevated Work Platforms. After all, they’ve been building them in Australia for over 23 years now, selling over 800 EWP’s to Vegetation Management Companies, Electricity Supply industry, Power Line Maintenance industry, Councils and many other independent businesses.

The new dual circuit sub-transmission line from Hallidays Points to Possum Brush provides Essential Energy with greater network flexibility

“It also offers us alternative switching options between the zone substation feeders at Hallidays Point and Taree, increasing Essential Energy’s network reliability.

“This new powerline gives us greater network flexibility to re-route power as required and cater for the future load growth

But they’re not just manufacturers of EWP’s.

Aerial Access Australia continually seek to add to the product portfolio to compliment the vegetation management, power authorities and telecommunication industries.

Some of their latest products that are proving popular include the trailer range of Reel Carrying trailers, Self Loading trailers, Turret trailers and other larger trailers suited for cable companies.

Aerial Access cable handling trailers are designed specifically for the utility and construction industry which mean that every trailer has been designed for hard use, long life and easy maintenance. Existing customers are using them to build infrastructure, maintain

from ongoing development in the area and the associated increase in customers on the network.”

The location of the powerline route meant Essential Energy’s contractors and crews had to access swampy, low-lying areas and work across the busy Pacific Highway.

energy grids and improve the flow of resources and products to their customers.

Assembled in Australia, they’re committed to supply and manufacture durable quality equipment, backed by the dedication of experienced technical support staff and leading edge manufacturing processes. Offering a standard range of trailers that can be used in different configurations or tailored to accomodate individual specifications.

Comprehensive spare parts and service facilities based at central warehouse with a national service agency network at customer’s disposal should the need arise. All units come with a full 12 month warranty as standard and extended warranties are available at customer’s request.

Australian Power & Energy News - Page 7

Dulhunty Poles – Titan Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Poles

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HE Titan® power pole is the outcome of years of painstaking research by Philip Dulhunty and his team developing and manufacturing utility transmission and distribution poles. Now supplied under contract to Ausgrid and Electricité de Tahiti and under trial by Australian and New Zealand distribution utilities, the advanced Titan® pole represents a breakthrough in power distribution in challenging environments for wood poles, including difficult access, high fire risk, termites, rust and rot.

To meet these challenges the extremely strong, hollow, lightweight, glass fibre reinforced cement pole was developed. One third the weight of equivalent steel reinforced concrete and just half that of a hardwood pole, the exceptionally easy to install Titan poles are able to withstand severe and sustained bushfires without damage and are proof against attack

by UV, rust, rot , termites and even bird attack.

Service life will far exceed that for wood poles with less maintenance and low whole of life costs, of special importance where heavy-duty poles support essential long life assets such as transformers.

Titan’s® glass reinforcement concentration in its relatively thin shell ensures that surface cracking, common in steel reinforced poles, does not occur. Using Finite Element Analysis for custom design of all Titan® pole performance specifications, the glass reinforcement forms an engineered flexible exoskeleton, providing a combination of stiffness and resilience under shock loading conditions. Importantly Titan® engineered glass fibre reinforced cement poles are not to be confused with plastic composite poles; these are an entirely different product for alternative applications.

Dulhunty has been involved in the power

pole supplies since 1950 when some Wauchope schoolmates were employed felling and octagon dressing durable hardwoods for utilities. When durable eucalyptus species supplies dried up, Dulhunty pioneered impregnating nondurable species with sap replaceable creosote and CCA salts which, for many years, became the staple industry product. His company, P.I. Poles Pty Ltd, produced these impregnated eucalyptus poles for many years including export to South Africa and Kenya.

Dulhunty’s next company, Dulmison Pty Ltd, designed and manufactured plastic composite poles for highway street lighting standards.

These poles were required to avoid undue traffic interruption if hit, collapsing themselves before causing excessive damage to an impacting vehicle. The historic photo shows a fibreglass reinforced resin pole struck by a Holden sedan – with little vehicle damage but total deformation of the pole!

Turning back to the present, it can be reported that a Florida utility is seeking a pole capable of resisting woodpecker attack, currently destroying wooden poles throughout that State.

Dulhunty’s team is using the White Cockatoo to demonstrate Titan’s® suitability; Australian technology to the rescue!

Above: Peter Wherrett tests the Dulmison fibreglass ‘safety’ pole

Above: Pole erected by Endeavour Energy in Kangaroo Valley, near Nowra, NSW

Above: The Titan transport advantage is revealed in this truckload of 27 poles for NSW

Bushfires Bushfi res and Power Poles Dulhunty Poles’ TITAN Power Poles have many advantages other than just being totally unburnable and bushfire proof. Although a bit more expensive to manufacture they are:1 Just one third the weight of an equivalent strength steel reinforced concrete pole and half the weight of an equivalent hardwood pole. This means the cost to transport, store, fit out and erect is so much less that it saves more dollars than the extra cost to manufacture.

2 Add to this is the fact that they are hollow. Down lead connections and earthing can all be accommodated internally 3 They are totally termite, funghi and teredo proof.

4 Non-corrosive in polluted air or salty soils 5 Unlike reinforced concrete and steel poles TITAN poles are non-conductive making them a viable replacement option for wood poles.

6 Contain an RFID which records the history of manufacture and details of every inspection.

7 Standard attachments can be bolted on with drilled holes like a wood pole or with bands like a concrete pole.

35 Buckley Grove, Moolap, Victoria 3221 P: +61 3 5248 1661 • F: +61 3 5248 6721 • www.dulhuntypoles.com

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8 Environmentally attractive, saves our forests (every wood pole was once a tree – every powerline a forest!)

Lowest Carbon footprint (Ipernica report).

9 Whole of Life Cost is the lowest – at the end of its service life it can be cut into fence posts or just ground up into useable gravel.

Each utility may put a different dollar value on these advantages but in all cases the savings to be made will be far in excess of any additional initial cost!

Special Hazards Fire Protection Solutions How LPG Fire Australia can protect your business LPG Fire Australia - independent designer of specialist extinguishing systems.

At LPG Fire Australia our vision is to be a leading provider of quality solutions for Special Hazards fire risks across all major industry sectors in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

We understand the importance of getting it right the first time so we work closely with consultants, end users, industry, procurement companies and suppliers to develop solutions to meet local industry specific demands.

Our team members are regularly engaged in drafting and reviewing fire system specifications and designs for high value, critical assets aimed at preventing or minimizing crucial down time of our customers’ operations in addition to providing rapid and reliable fire protection.

Once a solution is identified we can assist with all aspects of the project from design, drawings, project management, supply, commissioning, certification, system training and maintenance.

To ensure continued supply and support of our products we maintain substantial stock holdings of cylinders, extinguishing agents, nozzles, valves and accessories in our warehouse.

The head office and factory / warehouse of LPG Fire Australia is located in Queensland’s Gold Coast.

We are also represented on the ground in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland and Christchurch, positioning us well to service the Australian and New Zealand markets.

STOP PRESS: Another N2 FireFighter Oxygen Reduction Fire Prevention System has been delivered to TasNetworks for their Creek Road Substation fire upgrade. This unit was commissioned in early August when engineers from Isocell Italy, attended the site to conduct final hand over tests.

Australian Power & Energy News - Page 9

Powercor delivers Ararat Terminal Station 22 days early

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OWERCOR recently delivered Ararat Terminal Station (ARTS) and an associated 22km transmission line which will link Ararat Wind Farm to the national power grid.

The successful completion of the project in July, 22 days ahead of schedule, was the culmination of a year’s intense effort after Transmission General Holdings Australia (TGHA) announced a partnership with the wind farm in June 2015.

Transmission Operations Australia 2 (TOA2), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TGHA, is the owner and operator of the terminal station and the transmission line which will link it to the wind farm while sister company Powercor Network Services (PNS) was responsible for construction and project co-ordination.

“Transmission General Holdings Australia is excited to be partnering with Ararat Wind Farm to bring this project online,” said TGHA Director and Powercor Australia CEO Tim Rourke at the event when the project was announced.

The scope of the work to be performed

by Powercor included managing the many suppliers and contractors and the interface between the stakeholders in the project which included Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), AusNet Services (ANS), Ararat Wind Farm (AWF) and TOA2.

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RES Australia had developed the project and had put an enormous amount of work in managing local community expectations and

perceptions. Upon execution of contract, PNS conducted a separate community information session, primarily focused on the powerline and grid connection works.

As previous engagement with the community generally related to the wind farm component of the project, the community information session proved a valuable exercise and was the start of the project’s involvement from the Elmhurst community.

The actual works involved in the project included the building of the Terminal Station on a 200x60m site, the building of a 22km dualcircuit transmission line linking the station and the wind farm and the upgrading of a number of roads and an intersection to improve and facilitate access to the site especially for the delivery of large station components.

To be installed at the terminal station site was a 250MVA transformer – to step up the voltage from the 132kV powerline to the 220kV grid connection – to accommodate the energy produced by the wind farm’s 75 turbines. Also to be installed were three 220kV and one 132kV circuit breakers, eight 220kV and two 132kV disconnectors, one 3phase and one 1phase 222kV current transformers and a 15x15m control room.

The transmission line construction involved the installation of 106 steel mono poles, each between 22-28m in height, 132km of overhead conductor and 22km of optical fibre cabling for data transmission. The line was due to cross a number of properties and a fence saver in the form of a roller bracket was used to support the cabling being run out and protect fences along the route.

Work on the project began in September 2015 with the terminal station site being established a month later. The poles and stays for the transmission line were in place by the end of December and the road upgrades were complete by the end of January.

A major milestone in the construction of the terminal station was achieved when the 250MVA ARTS transformer reached Elmhurst at the end of April after arriving by ship in Melbourne and completing its journey by road.

The 4.2 metre by 50 metre transformer was welcomed on arrival in the community at an event which was attended by local people and hosted by Ararat Mayor Paul Hooper and Powercor General Manager Energy Solutions Glen Thompson.

Manufactured by General Electric in China, the 220-tonne transformer was assembled there and tested before being taken apart again for transport to the site.

The largest section of the disassembled transformer weighed 130 tonnes and was transferred from the heavy-duty trailer that had brought it from the port to a lighter and more manoeuvrable one using a gantry after it left the highway for the final stage of its journey.

At the site the transformer’s main tank was skated across from its trailer onto pre-prepared foundation and reassembled.

A noteworthy innovation in the construction according to Project Manager Michael Kennedy was the use of timber piles which significantly shortened construction time and reduced carbon emissions by 33 tonnes.

Continued on page 16

Greg Sewell Forgings are proud to be associated with Powercor in the supply of our products to the Ararat Terminal Station Project and are proud of the strong and lasting relationship that we have forged together.

For over 30 years now, Greg Sewell Forgings has been manufacturing and supplying quality steel forged and fabricated products to the Australian market.

For all of your fastener and line hardware accessory requirements or to find out more about Greg Sewell Forgings, please contact our National Sales Manager – Mr Robert Borg on 0400 363 600 or email: rborg@gsforgings.com

www.gsforgings.com Australian Power & Energy News - Page 11

Trident delivers all civil services to the Ararat Terminal Station

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RIDENT GROUP (Vic) was recently engaged by Powercor’s Energy Solutions business (PES) on a lump sum contract basis following a competitive tender process for the supply of all civil services associated with construction of the Ararat Terminal Station and associated access roads.

With previous experience as the civil contractor for construction of the Elaine Terminal Station in 2013, Trident Group (Vic) was confident from the outset that it could play its part to meet the ambitious project targets set by its client PES for construction and commissioning of the Ararat Terminal Station.

Thorough planning and construction programming by Trident’s project management staff, together with regular client site meetings and liaison with other contractors, ensured that the prosecution of all works within the scope of Trident’s contract could be done without delay to the overall construction program for the Ararat Terminal Station.

Trident Group (Vic) was granted sole possession of site by PES on 22 September 2015 to undertake site cut to fill earthworks, rock-lined swale drains, outfall pipe drainage, and temporary crushed rock surfacing for the Ararat Terminal Station.

These initial works were successfully completed by Trident Group (Vic) within eight (8) weeks, under its own management and supervision, and using its own thirdparty certified management systems.

Various construction innovations were introduced by Trident during this stage of construction to mitigate the risk of unsuitable foundation material, and to optimise the balance of site cut to fill earthworks. Early completion of site earthworks by Trident enabled early commencement of other critical path activities, such as piling.

The scope of Trident’s contract for the Ararat Terminal Station also included construction of the reinforced concrete transformer enclosure and associated firewall, installation of the fibreglass puraceptor oil separation tank, construction of all precast concrete cable ducts and electrical conduits, installation of the primary earth grid and earthing of structures, construction of medium risk security fencing, miscellaneous footings

and structures, final crushed rock surfacing, and all landscaping works associated with the completed Ararat Terminal Station.

As a contractor pre-qualified with Vicroads for roadworks, bridgeworks and traffic management under the National Prequalification Scheme, Trident Group (Vic) also completed a significant package of road upgrade works to enable delivery of the new transformer for the Ararat Terminal Station.

The package of works included construction of an intersection upgrade on the Pyrenees Highway east of Elmhurst, and upgrade of approximately 5km of existing gravel roads leading to the Ararat Terminal Station.

Specific works undertaken by Trident Group (Vic) included liaison with Vicroads and Pyrenees Shire on cost effective alternative pavement design solutions, construction of road widenings and new asphalt surfaces, construction of major culvert structures over waterways, resheeting and reconstruction of existing gravel roads utilising locally derived granular pavement materials, and miscellaneous works including clearing and grubbing, pavement markings, and roadside furniture.

To complete these works with minimal impact on public traffic and construction traffic to and from the Ararat Terminal Station, Trident Group (Vic) programmed and managed the works in accordance with traffic management strategies developed and implemented by its project management staff.

Successful delivery of the contract by Trident Group (Vic) relied heavily upon a strong and co-operative working relationship with various project stakeholders, including PES, Vicroads, Pyrenees Shire Council, the Landowner, and various subcontractors and suppliers.

Trident Group (Vic) Managing Director Mr. Darren Barnett said “Open and honest working relationships fostered over many years with the key stakeholders associated with our contract enabled a successful outcome to be achieved. Further to this, new relationships developed with the Landowner and key subcontractors put Trident in a strong position to deliver the contract to the time, cost and quality requirements of PES”.

Mr. Barnett reflected on Trident’s involvement as a subcontractor to PES for

Above: Construction of reinforced concrete blinding slab for puraceptor oil separation tank Page 12 - Australian Power & Energy News

Above: Completed 3600mm X 1800mm precast concrete crown unit structure and associated gabion endwalls at Sandy Lane creek crossing

Above: Erection of precast concrete firewall adjacent to transformer enclosure

the Ararat Terminal Station construction and stated that “this project, together with the Elaine Terminal Station in 2013 has enabled Trident to further invest in plant, equipment and personnel, with the specific goal of providing a highly professional contracting entity, capable of delivering cost effective

civil and structural works to PES within the renewable energy sector”.

Mr. Barnett went on to “congratulate PES on behalf of Trident Group (Vic) for its successful delivery of the Ararat Terminal Station and associated 132kV line to the Ararat Wind Farm project”.

Above: Filling of puraceptor oil separation tank with water to reduce soil pressure on fibreglass tank during backfilling of benched excavation

Proud to be associated with the

ARARAT TERMINAL STATION PROJECT

Provision of estimating team to assist Client with determination of scope and market-driven budget estimate for civil works associated with Ararat Terminal Station and external access roads;

Pyrenees Highway intersection upgrade works completed by Trident Group (Vic) to facilitate delivery of transformer to Ararat Terminal Station

Project management and supervision, including detailed construction programming, preparation of traffic management strategies, and liaison with local government authorities and Vicroads as required; Procurement of locally derived and “fit for purpose” construction materials to optimise local content of project, and minimise carbon footprint through reduced truck cartage; Supply of modern fleet of plant and equipment, and experienced plant operators; Construction of Pyrenees Highway intersection upgrade and upgrade 5km external access roads, including major culvert structures, pavement widenings, and reinforced concrete floodways; Construction of site cut to fill earthworks, perimeter swale drains, internal access roads, and temporary crushed rock surfacing for Ararat Terminal Station; Supply of all other civil / structural works associated with Ararat Terminal Station, including reinforced concrete transformer enclosure and associated firewall, installation of puraceptor oil separation tank, earthing of structures, precast concrete cable ducting, electrical conduits, station service footings, security fencing, final crushed rock surfacing and landscaping.

P.O. Box 663 Buninyong VIC 3357

Completed site cut to fill formation earthworks, perimeter swales and crushed rock surfacing for Ararat Terminal Station

M: 0417 318 146 P: 03 5341 3649

E: darren.barnett@tridentgroupvic.com.au W: www.tridentgroupvic.com.au

Australian Power & Energy News - Page 13

Boom Logistics supplies travel towers for Ararat transmission line construction

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EADING Australian lifting solutions and specialised access provider Boom Logistics was awarded a contract by Powercor for the provision of elevated work platforms for use during the construction of the 22km transmission line between Ararat Wind Farm and the Ararat Terminal Station at Elmhurst.

The project required the provision of between one and five insulated travel towers capable of providing a safe work platform at heights of 2628m at different stages of construction.

Boom Logistics has had a long association with Powercor and the energy industry in general and that this led to them being awarded the contract to supply the travel towers for work on the project as well as onsite servicing support.

Boom Logistics do supply operators for its hire equipment, but Powercor staff had operated the units during this particular project.

An initial site inspection by Boom engineers determined that the travel towers were suitable for use on the sections of the transmission line not accessible by road.

Boom’s part of the project had been completed with no major problems and welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the Ararat project

Page 14 - Australian Power & Energy News

which would be Australia’s third-largest windfarm.

Boom Logistics has the vision of being the leading and safest provider of lifting solutions in Australia.

The company operates from 20 depots across Australia providing service to wide a wide variety of customers concentrating on the resources, energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors. It places the highest value on safety and quality and is ISO 9001 and AS4801 accredited.

Boom Logistics operates a fleet of more than 350 cranes with lifting capacities ranging from 5-750 tonnes which include mobile hydraulic cranes and crawler cranes. Boom also offers specialised access equipment with over 220 travel towers in its fleet including knuckle boom and scissor-lift platforms and EWP units.

Boom provided the units to Powercor for use during construction of the Ararat Windfarm transmission line.

Lifting and access equipment is supplied by Boom Logistics either on a wet (complete with operators) or dry basis whereby the client’s own personnel operate the equipment.

Boom also provide a range of engineering services ranging from on-site maintenance and servicing of the equipment on hire to direct participation in client projects where the

company employees integrate into the client’s team to provide project management services, qualified lifting supervisors and equipment operators.

Boom Logistics engineering staff can also assist in planning heavy complex lifts with

pre-lift customer site surveys and analysis and detailed lift planning, often with the aid of computer simulation, to maximise lift efficiency and ensure projects are carried out in total safety.

EVEN AT THESE WE ARE ALWAYS ON YOUR LEVEL.

More than just an elevated work platform [EWP] supplier, we understand Power Transmission & Distribution. That’s why we partner with you to provide safe, reliable solutions. We know it takes more than the right equipment, we know it takes experience & expertise to deliver your projects.

That’s the difference between a supplier & a partner.

YOUR ELEVATED WORK PARTNER. www.boomlogistics.com.au info@boomlogistics.com.au

136 132 Australian Power & Energy News - Page 15

Powercor delivers Ararat Terminal Station 22 days early Continued from page 10 He said that the pile works were expected to take seven weeks if concrete piles had been used but it had been accomplished in only four weeks and that far less soil had had to be removed from the site.

Power generated by the wind farm is carried to the terminal station by the 22km power line which is stayed on the terminal side by an innovative ground attachment system.

The anchor consists of a 4m by 900mm steel cage which was accurately positioned and supported by a stay cradle in the hole which had been excavated for it while it was backfilled with concrete.

ESP insulators were used on the 106 mono poles and it is the first time that Powercor has used the lightweight units instead of the customary ceramic ones.

Mr Kennedy said that the insulators’ comparatively lighter weight had meant they were easier, quicker and safer to install, they have proved to be durable and able to withstand bird strikes.

Another milestone was reached in April with the delivery of the station’s 15x15m control room which had been built offsite in three sections by Ennesty Energy, transported to the site and reassembled onto prepared foundations and footings. The control room came fully fitted out with AC distribution panels, two battery rooms, a SCADA system and all associated wiring and fittings.

Works to enable the terminal station’s connection to the national power grid were completed by the end of June and the transmission line was successfully energised on July 3 with the entire project being completed shortly after that and the Ararat Terminal Station ready to feed the wind farm’s power into the grid as soon as it came on-stream.

According to Mr Kennedy, highlights of the 13-month project include the fact that it was completed 22 days ahead of schedule, that it gave employment to over 200 Victorians during the construction phase and provided a major boost to the local economy. A particular highlight for Powercor was the fact that the 220/132kV transformer is the largest it has yet installed.

“There were no major bumps in the road when it came to the actual completion of the project and the main challenge faced by the project team was to ensure all procurement activities were delivered and executed in accordance with project schedule,” he said.

Page 16 - Australian Power & Energy News

“There were in fact over 180 separate contracts and orders for materials involved in the project and it was satisfying that we managed to keep it all under control, manage the key stakeholders and deliver 22 days ahead of our schedule.

Some rest and recuperation will be needed by all but we are already looking forward to our next project,” said Mr Kennedy.

The Ararat Terminal Station and transmission line will be TGHA’s second transmission asset after the Mt Mercer Wind Farm project and Elaine Terminal Station southeast of Ballarat.

“As more and more large-scale renewable generation projects are developed in the coming years, our business is well positioned to ensure they are connected to the grid in the most efficient manner possible,” said Mr Rourke.

Powercor is also looking forward to increasing its footprint in the renewable energy sector by participating in more wind farm projects in the future said Mr Kennedy.

He said he believed that the company is also ideally placed to perform the same service for solar energy farms by linking them to the grid once they begin to be developed which he believes is inevitable given Australia’s generally

sunny climate.

The company is already active in the provision and installation of small-scale domestic and industrial solar generation systems and they believe that the energy storage market is also set to boom.

A $500,000 pilot project kicked off in December 2015 with the installation of storage batteries in 20 residences on the CitiPower network while a $2-million 2MW grid-scale storage battery was installed in a pilot project in Buninyong in March.

The battery is housed in a standard 40-foot shipping container and is currently Australia’s largest storage battery. The unit was built in South Korea and tested in Chicago where it passed with flying colours.

The unit will provide an hour’s worth of backup power for about 3000 customers and is expected to reduce power outages in the region to 33 minutes per year.

“This project will allow us to determine if using the installation of grid-scale batteries on the network will successfully increase capacity temporarily during peak demand periods,” Mr Rourke said.

Effective Fault Management for Increasing Generation Demand

F

The patented design concept has been extensively simulated on ANSYS Maxwell 3D software to evaluate its variable impedance under normal load and fault conditions. System X/R ratio is an important input. Network load flow simulations are separately performed for fault scenarios in different parts of the network with and without the FCL. Impact of FCLs on system protection and major system components is thoroughly assessed prior to an FCL installation.

Lightning Impulse, thermal and dynamic short-circuit strength of the FCL is further analysed using standard power transformer FEM software.

Various prototype and commercial FCLs manufactured so far have been rigorously tested in the transformer factory and a certified short circuit test laboratory, with multiple fault conditions and fault levels with maximum asymmetry. Field results, laboratory results and design simulations have shown good correlation amongst themselves.

For more information about FCL and other innovative products, please visit our website: www.wtc.com.au

OLLOWING three and a half years of successful experience in live operation, GridON and Wilson Transformer Company are announcing a new family of cost-effective Fault Current Limiters (FCL-DG) with smaller footprint for mid-to-high voltage applications.

GridON’s established technology has been further enhanced to offer a cost-effective solution for distribution grid operators, industrial customers and independent power producers.

Growing demand for connecting Distributed Generation (DG) sources has been causing major challenges – in particular mitigation of additional fault current introduced with DG connection. Network operators will not authorise DG connection without proven means for protecting the network from excessive fault currents levels.

Independent Power Producers (IPP) are often required to make significant capital and resource investments in order to reduce fault current exposure, and to be able to connect.

This requirement often translates to postponement of the connection and significant incurred costs. In some cases, where DG is over-subscribed, it may not be possible for a new IPP to connect at all. GridON in partnership with Wilson Transformer Company are offering a cost-effective solution for expanding decentralised generation sources.

GridON and Wilson Transformer Company offer a breakthrough Fault Current Limiter for network operators, power producers and industrial customers.

By suppressing excessive fault currents, GridON’s FCLs enable increased supply by cost-effective network meshing and connection of power generation and renewable energy sources. The FCL improves grid resilience and reliability and significantly lowers capital expenditures and operating costs.

Independent Power Producers are now able to apply this novel FCL-DG for cost effective and reliable connection of decentralised energy sources, while controlling their prospective fault currents. The FCLDG will expedite connection time and reduce costs.

The FCL-DG instantly suppresses excessive current and recovers to normal load rapidly upon fault clearance - being always ready for consecutive short circuit events. The FCL-DG is reliable and robust, and very easy to install and maintain.

Decentralised Generation example: Typical distributed generation source (like gas and wind) is being connected to 11-33kV grids. Following is an example of a 20MVA gas generation plant, connecting to a 33kV distribution network. The prospective fault current from the independent power producer side may reach 1,500A, while the network operator’s requirement is keeping additional fault current under 600A at all times. An FCL installed in the feeder connection to the network will guarantee that all fault currents will be limited under 600A level.

LIFETIME RELIABILITY, SMART ENGINEERING Established in 1933 with a proud history, Wilson Transformer Company is a leading specialist in the delivery of transformer solutions to a wide variety of industries and customers around the world, including hydro power stations, solar applications and wind farms.

We design and manufacture transformers to suit both MV and HV substation applications. Our designs are optimised according to parameters such as generation profile, feed in tariff, corrosive environment, wind profile, project design life, expected revenue per kWh and cost of capital.

Our product range includes:

Compact MV Substations Special Transformers Fault Current Limiters ! !

Monitoring & Control Solutions

wtc.com.au

THE TRANSFORMER PEOPLE Australian Power & Energy News - Page 17

Turbines are sprouting at Ararat Wind Farm V ICTORIA’s Ararat Wind Farm has seen the erection of its first turbines over the past month. A total of seven turbines have been erected to date and Ararat Wind Farm’s General Manager, Stuart Liddell is confident they will be supplying power to the grid in the next month.

To date project construction has achieved total completion of the 21.5km of transmission line and connection works to the grid via the 132/220kV transformer installed at Elmhurst

by PowerCor Network Services. In addition, the project’s construction partner GE Downer have completed more than half of the 52km of internal access tracks.

The erection of the first turbines represents another critical point in the project development and showcases the potential of the renewables industry in Australia. The local community has been supportive of the project which is expected to inject almost $8 million into the local economy and currently employs more than 300 full time equivalent workers.

The Ararat Wind Farm has set up a community fund to support local causes and a total of $75,000 per annum will be contributed to three of the local council areas. The project is also committed to using local suppliers where possible, and is already engaging Dale Bell Fencing and Kings Cars.

Once complete, the Ararat Wind Farm will be a world class project that plays a key part in Australia’s renewable energy future.

Valued at A$450 million, the erection of turbines indicates the project is on budget and schedule.

Background: The Ararat Wind Farm Pty Ltd is co-owned by a consortium of Renewable Energy Systems (“RES”), GE (NYSE: GE), Partners Group on behalf of its clients, and OPTrust. The 240MW Ararat Wind Farm in south-west Victoria will be

the third largest wind farm in Australia and has attracted almost half a billion dollars of direct international investment into Victoria.

The Ararat Wind Farm was the first major wind farm contract to be signed following restored bipartisan support for the Renewable Energy Target (RET) in June 2015. Construction of the wind farm is a joint venture between Downer and GE. The project also benefits from a power purchase agreement with the Australian Capital Territory Government (ACT), guaranteeing the purchase of approximately 40 per cent of the energy produced at the site, which was awarded under the ACT’s Wind Auction announcement in February 2015.

Above: Blade arrival

Above: Blade assembly Fast Facts: • 75 turbines will be installed on site • 240MW installed capacity • Enough electricity to supply 120,000 Victorian homes p.a.

• Blades are 50m in length and weigh 9T each • Each turbine’s gravity foundation consists of 350m3 of concrete, 35T of reinforcing steel (embedded 3m into the ground), 108 bolts and are 17m wide.

• Turbines are 135m to the top of the blade. This is referred to as tip height.

• The rotor diameter is 104m.

• The main assembly crane required to erect the turbines weighs 600T • Over 200,000m3 of material has been excavated on site to date.

• 62km of trenches are required for the electrical cables to carry electricity back to the onsite substation.

• 230km of single core electrical cable is required to connect the turbine generators to the substation.

Page 18 - Australian Power & Energy News

Ennesty Energy delivers Ararat Wind Farm control room

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NNESTY ENERGY recently completed the construction and installation of the control room for the Ararat Wind Farm being constructed in Victoria about 180km north-west of Melbourne.

According to Ennesty Energy MD Nigel Turner the wind farm will be the third-largest in Australia capable of generating up to 240MW of electricity or enough to power around 120,000 Victorian homes each year and its control room will play a central role in feeding power from the site into the grid.

The company was awarded the contract to design and construct the control room by Powercor Australia in October 2015 based on their previous extensive experience in the construction of prefabricated cubicles of various types for the power industry.

The $1-million contract called for the

construction of a 15m x15m building fully fitted out with AC distribution panels, internal DC distribution to two battery rooms, all the necessary protection and control systems and a SCADA system to enable communication with remote sites.

Mr Turner said that Ennesty Energy engineers had completed the design of the building in two months having faced a number of challenges along the way including strict size and weight constraints due to the fact that it would have to be transported approximately 180 km from the company’s factory at Laverton in North Victoria to the Ararat site.

The company team’s response was to design the control room in three sections – each approximately 5m x 15m in size – which could be transported individually and reassembled to form the finished completed building.

The design was innovative in a number of other ways in including the fact that the structure

is fully self-supporting from its external walls which are constructed using a new fire-resistant aluminium composite which also gives it a clean modern look.

Issues around cable management and the internal pillars which would have been required to support ceiling-mounted cabling were solved by the addition of a false floor. This provides an easily accessible space to run cabling out of the way and provides an uncluttered work space free from internal pillars which would have impeded staff going about their daily tasks.

Construction began in January 2016 and completed approximately three months later.

The units were delivered to the Ararat site after extensive testing to ensure all systems were fully functional and were installed on foundations and footings that had been prepared for them by Powercor Australia’s civils contractor.

Mr Turner said the onsite assembly and installation of the control room had been accomplished and that it is ready to fulfil its pivotal role when the Ararat Wind Farm came on stream in September 2016 and began to feed power into the grid.

Ennesty Energy was established in 2001 with the aim of providing infrastructure and services

to safely control energy distribution from its generation to distribution to consumers around Australia.

The company’s first major contract was awarded a year later by Powercor Australia and Mr Turner said that this led to a long beneficial association with the electricity distributor which authorised Ennesty Energy as a supplier of services Australia-wide in 2005.

The company has built up an enviable reputation in cubicle construction including control and switch rooms. These can be designed up 25m in length to meet any client requirement and are provided complete with appropriate climate control to ensure the smooth running of the electrical equipment they are to house.

Ennesty Energy is also experienced in the production of battery rooms and energy storage solutions with their unique requirements for blast and fire resistance. The company also offers site offices and amenity rooms if needed.

In addition to its various products, the company offers an extensive portfolio of field services including primary plant installation and maintenance, protections and control systems implementation, high voltage cable terminations, testing and commissioning and site leadership and management.

Australian Power & Energy News - Page 19

Essential Energy aids in brightening Vanuatu villages

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SSENTIAL Energy has found an innovative way to recycle surplus solar panels that will brighten the future for villagers in parts of Vanuatu left devastated by Cyclone Pam in 2015.

The 700 photo-voltaic (PV) modules from Essential Energy’s small-scale demonstration solar farm in Queanbeyan will be contributed to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) for use in its overseas volunteer aid work.

Essential Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, John Cleland, said the ageing solar farm had been identified as surplus to business requirements and recently decommissioned.

“We initially offered the solar farm components for disposal through a public tender process but when that was unsuccessful we explored other options for the equipment,” John said.

“One of our employees discovered the SEIA aid project that aims to improve the living conditions for Vanuatu’s poorest and most isolated people by providing solar power for their households. It was a natural fit and a wonderful example of recycling to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

SEIA’s Project Manager, Diana Pook, said the panels would be installed on village school roofs and huts and used in conjunction with 12-volt batteries to supply basic lighting for villages. The project will deliver many benefits, including enabling islander children to study and complete their homework in the evenings.

“SEIA is excited to partner with Essential Energy to help the people of Vanuatu,” Diana said. “We have already undertaken a number of projects and look forward to utilising the generous contribution from Essential Energy to complete many more.”

Accredited contractor SMART (Solar Maintenance And Renewable Technologies) will begin dismantling the solar farm in preparation for the delicate operation of packaging the panels onto pallets and shipping them to SEIA in Sydney ready for export to the South Pacific in October.

“SMART is proud to be part of this great story on the positive use of decommissioned PV modules,” Director Dave Galloway said.

“It’s fantastic to be able to work with Essential Energy and SEIA with their forward thinking attitude towards benefiting the PV industry, remote communities and, specifically, the correct

handling of decommissioned PV modules. This is as great step forward and example that has been set.”

The 50 kilowatt Queanbeyan solar farm occupies a 1,872m² space adjacent to Essential

ActewAGL shares electricity network insights with the world

A

ctewAGL recently hosted government officials from the Rural Electrician Board of Bangladesh at its Civic Zone Substation Acton, ACT.

Page 20 - Australian Power & Energy News

Above: Queanbeyan solar farm

Above: Solar panels on a health clinic in Vanuatu

Above: Solar farm being dismantled

ActewAGL Branch Manager Asset and Network Performance Leylann Hinch hosted the delegation and showcased our Disaster Recovery Control Room, zone substation and switching equipment.

Leylann said “Earlier this year, ActewAGL became the first distributor in Australia to have visibility and control of our entire low voltage network right up to the customer door.

“Visits like this one are a great opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences with international Government officials to help develop strategies and inform foreign energy projects and policies.”

The delegation’s visit was focused on investigating technologies to develop a rural electrification scheme in Bangladesh. The scheme is being sponsored by the World Bank.

Canberra was the final stop on the delegation’s itinerary, which included site tours of other distribution network companies and meetings with government agencies in Australia and New Zealand.

Energy’s Queanbeyan Depot and was established in 1998 as a small-scale demonstration of renewable energy generation. However, the low system efficiency compared with current technology meant the equipment has reached the end of its serviceable life.

Above: ActewAGL was pleased to host a delegation of Bangladeshi Government officials to showcase its Disaster Recovery Control Room, zone substation and switching equipment

Protecting Tasmania’s interests

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YDRO Tasmania’s response to the 2015-16 energy supply challenge protected Tasmania’s energy security while avoiding higher costs for Tasmanians in the future.

The Chairman, Grant Every-Burns, said the energy supply challenge was caused by an unprecedented combination of events.

“The record dry spring was regarded as a 1/300 year event and the first undersea cable fault in 10 years. Prior to their occurrence, they would have been considered at least a 1/3000 year combined event,” Mr Every-Burns said.

“Before and during that extremely rare situation, Hydro Tasmania acted exactly as it should. We managed our water storages cautiously and prudently while running our business as efficiently as possible, to maximise returns to Tasmanians.

“Our people responded with outstanding skill to protect Tasmania’s energy security without locking in higher costs for the future.

“I caution against a costly over-reaction to the extremely rare events of 2015-16,” he said.

Pending advice to the Tasmanian Government from the Energy Security Taskforce, the company is building storages to about 40 per cent during spring, and will seek to maintain that level into January 2017.

Hydro Tasmania storages have recovered strongly since May. At the start of this week, total energy in storage was 38.1 per cent. If required, gas generation and Basslink imports will be used to help maintain storages.

Ergon welcomes new faces Q

UEENSLAND’S future energy professionals are getting their first taste of the electricity industry, with 85 apprentices signing on to Ergon Energy as part of this year’s intake.

Ergon is welcoming the new guard with inductions at seven centres across the state - Maryborough, Townsville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Cairns, Mackay and Brisbane.

Once they have completed their inductions and initial training, the apprentices will return to their home depots in 40 locations, from Thursday Island to Quilpie.

Acting Chief Executive Roslyn Baker said this year’s intake continued Ergon Energy’s commitment to training the workforce of tomorrow.

“It’s vital that we continue to teach and pass on the front-line expertise and skills now and into the future to deliver a safe, reliable and affordable electricity supply to customers.

This apprenticeship intake demonstrates that commitment,” she said.

“Most of our crews throughout the state begin their careers in the industry as apprentices, just like this year’s intake, and the value and reliance the community places on their work soon become apparent – especially in times of natural disasters.

“Almost twelve months ago we saw the importance of having a highly trained workforce Above: Ergon Energy’s 2016 Apprentices, McLeod Street Cable Trainer

Above: 2016 Apprentices, Renay Saunders, Warren Mabo and Dean Bauer

when our company responded to Cyclone Marcia,” she said.

More than 900 field staff from Ergon and other agencies worked for almost a fortnight to restore power to about 65,000 customers in early 2015.

The 85 outstanding recruits were selected from among 2200 applicants. They also represent Queensland’s great diversity and include eight Indigenous apprentices and 17 females breaking into the traditionally maledominated roles, with a combination of school leavers and mature-aged applicants.

They will train as communications technicians, distribution linespersons, systems electricians and transmission linespersons.

Some will embark on tertiary studies for either an associate degree or advanced diploma qualification while undertaking their usual apprenticeship training.

The group also includes six current employees who have successfully sought an apprenticeship to further their careers.

“The newest recruits will gain skills such as communications technicians, distribution linespersons, systems electricians and transmission linespersons.

“Some of the new recruits will embark on tertiary studies for either an associate degree or advanced diploma qualification while undertaking their usual apprenticeship training.

We wish them the best of success as we welcome them into our workforce,” she said.

There are a number and variety of positions across Ergon’s regions: • 13 positions in Tropical North operating area: 1 Atherton, 5 Cairns, 1 Cooktown, 1 Georgetown, 1 Innisfail, 1 Mareeba, 1 Normanton, 1 Thursday Island, 1 Ravenshoe • 13 positions in the Pioneer operating area: 1 Barcaldine, 1 Clermont, 9 Mackay, 1 Pinnacle, 1 Winton • 18 positions in our Fitzroy operating area: 1 Biloela, 2 Gladstone, 1 Middlemount, 1 Miriam vale, 8 11 Rockhampton, 1 Springsure, 1 Yeppoon.

• 9 positions in our Herbert operating area: 1 Bowen, 2 Charters Towers, 1 Hughenden, 1 Ingham, 1 Mt Isa, 1 Proserpine, 11 Townsville, 1 Tully.

• 9 positions in the Fraser Burnett operating area: 2 Bundaberg, 2 Hervey Bay, 1 Kilkivan, 3 Maryborough, 1 Mundubbera.

Above: 2016 Apprentices in their Training Room, McLeod Street

• 13 positions in the Greater Downs area of operations: 1 Charleville, 2 Dalby, 1 Millmerran, 2 Roma, 1 St George, 6 Toowoomba.

Australian Power & Energy News - Page 21

Night of recognition for innovative excellence T HE innovation and skill of people from Hydro Tasmania and Entura has been recognised at the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards (AEEA) Tasmania 2016.

Hydro Tasmania won the Infrastructure Project category for its Rowallan Dam upgrade.

Meanwhile, Entura and Tasmanian Irrigation won the Control Systems, Networks, Information Processing and Telecommunications category for the Meander Dam integrated water management system.

The CEO of Hydro Tasmania, Steve Davy, said it’s pleasing to have the company’s hard work and skill recognised after a particularly challenging year.

“We take dam safety and maintenance extremely seriously, so it’s pleasing to see the quality of our investments and expertise recognised at the highest level,” Mr Davy said.

“As Australia’s leading producer of renewable energy, we’re determined to keep our assets strong and contemporary in the decades ahead.

“I’d like to recognise the contribution of Shaw Contracting, Hazell Bros, Entura and AECOM (previously URS Consulting) who partnered with us on the Rowallan project. It was the first time such a complex refurbishment had been conducted on a live dam in Australia,” he said.

The Rowallan Dam is a 43-metre high earth and rock-fill dam on the Mersey River in Tasmania’s north.

Its upgrade cost $13.4 million over three years, and was finished in 2015. It extended the

dam’s lifespan by up to 150 years (having been constructed in the 1960s), and made it more resistant to flooding and internal erosion.

“It’s also fantastic to see Entura recognised for its service to Tasmanian irrigators,” Mr Davy said.

“Entura’s reputation for finding innovative and sustainable solutions to engineering problems continues to grow at a national and global level,” he said.

The Meander Dam integrated water management system was designed, developed and delivered by Entura. It provides accurate, reliable and easy-to-use information to help Tasmanian Irrigation effectively manage its Meander Dam water storage and associated hydropower facility in northern Tasmania.

The system allows Tasmanian irrigation to deliver supply certainty to water users while also optimising power production, and ensuring dam safety.

The Meander Dam is the centrepiece of the Meander Valley Irrigation Scheme - one of the largest irrigation schemes in Tasmania. The dam was completed in 2007 and holds 43 000 megalitres of water, supplying five irrigation regions servicing pasture and cropping land.

There’s more information about the integrated water management system on Entura’s website.

The Australian Engineering Excellence Awards are run by Engineers Australia and widely regarded as Australia’s top engineering awards. There’s more information at www. excellenceawards.org.au.

Meander Dam - Spill from downstream

Above: Hydro Tasmania with their Award for the Rowallan Dam upgrade

Above: Rowallan Dam refurbishment

Entura to deliver data management solution to Australia’s oldest irrigation scheme

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PECIALIST power and water consulting firm Entura has been engaged by The Renmark Irrigation Trust (RIT) to deliver telemetry technology that will enable better data collection and management from over 800 water meters in South Australia.

Founded in 1893, RIT is Australia’s oldest irrigation scheme. It supplies irrigation water pumped from the Murray River to over 550 farming properties, covering more than 4,500 hectares of horticultural land.

The new system will significantly improve customer experience and drive operational efficiencies, eliminating the need for contractors to manually read the meters.

“We recognise the importance of good irrigation delivery and on-farm practices through the use of efficient delivery infrastructure systems and efficient water use, monitoring Page 22 - Australian Power & Energy News

and management techniques,” said RIT General Manager, Barry Schier.

“The new telemetry system provided by Entura will capture water use data from individual mag flow water meters utilising RS232 protocol throughout our scheme and integrate that data with our existing billing and water orderings systems.

“Our customers will be able to access information concerning their daily water use and remaining water allocation via the internet, giving them greater oversight of their water use patterns and providing more flexibility for water trading.”

Upon implementation, RIT will take ownership of the entire system so that it can operate and maintain it with little or no external assistance. Entura will support the required knowledge transfer and capability development through its training division, the Entura clean energy and water institute.

Financial support for the RIT project was provided via a grant received under Round 2 of the Irrigation Industry Improvement Program (3IP) which forms part of the South Australian River Murray Sustainability (SARMS) Program funded by the Australian Government and administered by Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA).

“We’re pleased to be partnering with RIT to deliver a data collection and management system that will allow them to just concentrate on the data itself, and use it to manage risks and get the best out of their operations,” said Alan Barrett, Business Development Manager, Water at Entura.

Entura works with customers across the Asia-Pacific region and Africa to help them improve the safety and performance of their dams, irrigation schemes, pipelines and pumping stations and to deliver innovative data monitoring, management and analysis solutions.

As part of Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest water manager, Entura is backed by more than 100 years of planning, building, managing and maintaining water assets.

Shawn embraces hands-on apprenticeship at Power and Water

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IGINALLY from Adelaide, Shawn and his partner Kim moved to Darwin five years ago where they embraced the lifestyle as well as a career change after initially taking a break to travel around Australia.

“We packed up the 4WD and swag and travelled for 14 months exploring Tasmania, central Australia’s Simpson Desert region, across the Nullabor Plain to West Australia and then made our way to Cairns stopping in Darwin along the way,” he says.

Above: Power and Water apprentice Shawn Buckton

Above: Shawn Buckton wins the NECA Electrical Apprentice of the Year

“While we were in north Queensland, Kim was offered work in Darwin and we decided it would be a good move for us.”

Having worked in the private sector within the IT industry previously, Shawn decided to try a new direction, wanting to spend time in a role which would bring variety and be “more hands-on”.

He applied for an apprenticeship with GTNT and was offered a placement with Power and Water.

Since then, Shawn hasn’t looked back and is now a fourth year apprentice undertaking a Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician with the Power Networks team.

Shawn has thrived during his time with the team and his supervisors describe his qualities

Power and Water Corporation hosts global technical forum

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OWER and Water Corporation recently hosted CIGRE in Darwin, a global technical forum for large electric systems with 26 delegates attending from Australia and New Zealand.

as an outstanding apprentice, that being honesty, integrity, commitment and the ability to inspire others.

“He is held in high regard by his peers, his trade supervisors and his management,” says Power Networks’ Resource Coordinator Aven Hudson.

“Shawn has a strong work ethic and no matter his task, it is completed to a high standard.”

Following his great work, Shawn received two nominations for the Master Builders NT Excellence in Building & Construction Awards and was announced as NECA Electrical Apprentice of the Year.

His leadership skills have continued to develop as he was selected to represent the Northern

Territory at the 2016 Today’s Skills: Tomorrow’s Leaders program held in Canberra last month.

Job aside, Shawn says he enjoys getting out on the road, camping and discovering new areas of the country going hand in hand with what the Northern Territory has on offer.

At 33 years of age, his advice to younger people and anyone wanting to undertake an apprenticeship is to go ahead and do it.

“I highly recommend an apprenticeship; you get a skill set and qualification that is a huge benefit in today’s job market,” Shawn says.

“Working with Power and Water my advice is to embrace the different aspects the corporation has to offer: it’s a lot more technical, work hard, and ask plenty of questions.”

ActewAGL wins ACT Large Employer of the Year Award ActewAGL is thrilled to have won the 2016 ACT Large Employer of the Year award at the ACT Training Awards held at the Hotel Realm in Canberra recently.

The award recognises ActewAGL’s outstanding delivery of quality industry based training and their commitment to the safety of its employees and the community.

ActewAGL Branch Manager Works Delivery Clinton McAlister said this award is recognition of the organisation’s values and commitment to keeping staff safe, engaged and proficient in their roles.

“We are very proud to receive an award that recognises our commitment to our staff by developing them professionally. We have one of the most reliable electricity networks in the country, and this can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our staff.

“This award was made possible thanks to the impressive program of works implemented by ActewAGL’s Learning and Development team.”

ActewAGL has been a Registered Training Organisation operating under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) since 1997, providing training and assessment services for the electrotechnology, communications and energy utilities industry.

Above: CIGRE members, hosted by Power and Water Corporation, visited Elizabeth River crossing to inspect the Line A upgrade involving the replacement of six transmission towers Power Networks’ General Manager, John Greenwood, said the event was a valuable learning opportunity for the corporation’s engineers to take part in.

“We are pleased at the opportunity to host the global forum and share ideas on the latest innovations within the power networks industry,” he said.

“The forum included a site visit to Power and Water’s recently installed towers at Hidden Valley, current 132kV transmission line works at the Elizabeth River Crossing and the new Strangways Zone Substation.”

At Hidden Valley raceway the main interest was in the new design of the transmission towers, constructed locally and made of concrete and galvanised steel.

Another highlight was the inspection of the Elizabeth River crossing project, located near Channel Island, where work is underway to replace six transmission towers to upgrade the Line A river crossing.

The new towers are slightly higher at 62 metres high and the length of the span crossing the river is approximately 700 metres.

The new towers are known as Line C and sit about 30 metres to the harbour side of Line A. The project is expected to be finished mid-next year.

The last stop on the tour was the new Strangways Zone Substation, which will service the growing rural area and is planned to replace the McMinn Zone Substation.

The visit also involved a two-day workshop on the latest industry related matters and projects.

Above: ActewAGL was thrilled to be announced as the 2016 ACT Large Employer of the Year at the ACT Training Awards recently Australian Power & Energy News - Page 23

Work starts on $15 million Marsden Park electricity upgrade

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NDEAVOUR Energy recently announced work has started on its $15 million upgrade of power supply to the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct.

The upgrade involves the installation of a new 6.6 kilometre underground transmission line from Schofields to Marsden Park.

The project will underpin the power needed to support up to 10,000 new jobs in the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and house 3,500 people in surrounding residential areas.

“This project will provide a safe and reliable electricity supply to one of the fastest growing areas in Australia,” said Endeavour Energy’s General Manager Network Development Ty Christopher.

“The new transmission line will run underground along roads between our Schofields and South Marsden Park Zone Substations.

“Once completed this project will power the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and surrounding areas for years to come.”

Mr Christopher said the local community had made a significant contribution to the design of the upgrade.

“I would like to thank the local community and Blacktown City Council for their input into this important project,” Mr Christopher said.

“By working closely with the community in developing our plans, we were able to identify efficiencies allowing the new transmission line to be placed underground along its entire route.”

Mr Christopher said Endeavour Energy and its contractors would work with local residents to minimise the impact of works to complete the upgrade.

“We will be trenching within Schofields Road, Veron Road, Grange Avenue, Richmond Road and Hollinsworth Road to install the transmission cable.

“Work will be undertaken between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and written notifications will be provided to residents when we are working near their homes.

“We would appreciate local residents following the safety signs and directions around the areas where we will be working.”

Weather permitting, Mr Christopher said the upgrade was expected to be completed during 2017.

Further information on the upgrade can be obtained at www.endeavourenergy.com.au/ S2MP.

Work starts on $22.4 million Vineyard to Marsden Park power upgrade

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NDEAVOUR Energy recently announced the start of construction of its new $22.4 million Vineyard to Marsden Park power upgrade.

Page 24 - Australian Power & Energy News

The upgrade is part of Endeavour Energy’s strategy to provide a safe and reliable power supply to underpin urban development across the North West Priority Growth Area.

This work includes a new 5.5 kilometre 132,000 volt transmission line from TransGrid’s Vineyard Bulk Supply Point (BSP) to the new Marsden Park Zone

Substation (ZS).

“The existing electrical network in the Marsden Park area was designed for rural and low density land uses only,” said Endeavour Energy’s General Manager Network Services Scott Ryan.

“Once fully developed, Marsden Park is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 dwellings as well as commercial properties in town centres and employment areas.

“To support this development, Endeavour Energy has established Marsden Park ZS which will be supplied by this new 132,000 volt transmission line from Vineyard BSP.” Mr Ryan said the final design of the upgrade was the result of a robust assessment process to achieve the best balance of community, environmental, financial and technical considerations.

“As part of our assessment, we wrote to Blacktown City Council, RMS and Sydney Water as well as residents, businesses and land developers adjoining the route of the upgrade inviting them to comment on our plans.

“The upgrade will run overhead on steel poles for 1.9 kilometres from Vineyard BSP through a new easement on privately owned land north of Park Road.

“From this point, the transmission line proceeds underground for 3.9 kilometres along Park Road and parts of Garfield Road West and Richmond Road to Marsden Park ZS.” Mr Ryan said Endeavour Energy and its contractors would work with local residents to minimise the impact of the works required to complete the upgrade.

Work will be undertaken between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Written notifications will be provided to residents in advance of working near their homes.

“It would be appreciated if local residents could follow the safety signs and directions around the areas where we will be working to install the underground transmission cable.”

Mr Ryan said the upgrade would be completed in 2017.