Event Recordings

STATCOM Technology for the Distribution System
October 31, 2018 - Bob McFetridge

STATCOM Technology for the Distribution System, A New Option for Distribution-Connected Renewable Integration and Power Quality Solutions

The days of large fossil fueled central station power plants are numbered and renewable generation in the forms of wind and solar are quickly taking its place. Wind farms have already spread widely acrossthe world and continue to be installed at a fast pace. PV solar generation is beginning to spread out. While large MW wind farms and PV plants are connected to the transmission system, smaller MW sized wind farms and PV solar plants are connected directly to the distribution system, where infrastructure allows. Certainly, the smaller commercial and residential PV solar installations are connected to the distribution system.

Many utilities impose a step voltage change (or flicker) limit, on their transmission and distribution systems. The value of the limit is usually set at around 2% to 3%. For example, this limit often drives the maximum size of a capacitor bank that can be switched or the rating of the largest line-started induction motor that can be started. . Typically, step voltage changes that are less than 2% are not perceived visually by their customers nor does it usually impact customer processes. Values greater than 2% that occur with greater frequency are known to cause impacts such as customer down-time and excessive wear and tear on utility equipment.

This paper presents methods for designing and sizing STATCOM installations on a utility distribution feeder such that the variation of the renewable generation will not exceed a utility’s step voltage change requirement.

Resilience of Distribution Grids
September 19, 2018 - Terry Lampard

Resilience of Electricity Distribution Networks

Resilience is a multi-faceted concept which can be interpreted and defined in several ways by organisations around the world, based on their practices and experiences with extreme events. In the context of electricity distribution networks, resilience can be widely defined with respect to the network’s ability to withstand rare and extreme events and quickly recover to its pre-event resilient state.

CIRED (Congres International des Reseaux Electriques de Distribution) has prepared a report on Electricity Distribution Network Resilience where a theoretical framework is presented as well as the state of the art on the following themes:

• Impact of different events to the electrical supply system
  
• Interdependence of infrastructure
  
• Evaluation of needs and existing resilience
  
• Strategies for planning, control and operation
  
• Overall strategies for cities in the case of a HILP event including crisis strategies
  
• Role of innovative networks and dispersed generation towards resilience
  

An overview of this report will be presented in this webinar.

About the speaker

Terry Lampard is a professional engineer with over 40 years’ experience in the electricity industry. He spent 37 years at Ausgrid and held numerous technical, commercial and management positions. He was Chair of the Energy Networks Association Electricity Technical Regulatory Committee for several years, which oversaw the development of national standards for electricity distribution. More recently, he managed the due diligence for the NSW electricity network lease transactions on behalf of NSW Treasury. He currently lectures in High Voltage Engineering at Sydney University and is an active participant in CIRED and CIGRE Working Groups in the area of Grid Resilience.

Terry is also a member of the NSW Chapter of the Electrical Energy Society of Australia.

Challenges Faced in Connecting a Remote Solar Farm
June 26, 2018 - Mathew Holden

Challenges Faced in Connecting a Remote Solar Farm

With a fault level of only 45 MVA and customer load of 3.3 MVA, connection of an 18 MW Solar Farm at Hughenden in mid-western Queensland presented some unique challenges to Energy Queensland. This paper reviews the methodology adopted by the Planning, Protection and Operations teams to facilitate connection of a modern renewable power station to a substation that started life in the ‘70s as the grid connection to an isolated diesel fired power station. Voltage management, load constraints, distributed anti-islanding and contingency driven generator ramp down are considered, including comparison to actual performance and initial operational experience. Network impacts observed during Generator Performance Standard testing will be discussed and compared to modelled results.

About the speaker

Matthew Holden, Ergon Energy.

Matthew has been in the Electricity supply industry for 18 years, mainly with Ergon Energy. He did a short nine-month stint with ABB/Mowlem in the UK. He has varied experience across the substation space, including design and testing. His current role is in commissioning and maintenance. Matthew is fascinated with the current renewables boom, seeing it as a challenge and a really exciting time to be in the electric energy industry.

Tasmania Pumped Storage
April 18, 2018 - Pippa Williams

Tasmania Pumped Storage

Australia’s National Electricity Market is facing a period of significant change, and the future NEM is expected to bear little resemblance to its current state. Coal generation is expected to progressively retire due to age-related deterioration (and possibly market pressures) and will be replaced by new cost-competitive energy sources that are likely to be variable - wind and solar. The interactions of these variable energy sources will change the nature of the power system and power system planning and modelling.

In this context of rapid technology development and persistent policy uncertainty, how can we achieve a stable, reliable, low cost and clean power system? How can we identify the investments we will need to make, and commit to long-term decisions under such uncertainty? How can we leverage existing assets while embracing new and disruptive technology?

Hydro Tasmania, on behalf of the Government of Tasmania, in partnership with TasNetworks and with support from ARENA, is undertaking the Battery of the Nation initiative, to explore a vision where Tasmania plays a much more significant role in the NEM. The initiative looks at expanding interconnection, repurposing existing hydroelectric generating plant, augmenting the existing system with pumped hydro energy storage, and developing strong variable renewable energy in the state. The initiative is also developing methodology to understand the value of synergistic investments, such as variable renewable energy and storage, and makes the case for Tasmania as an attractive development opportunity to address future power system challenges.

About the speaker

Pippa Williams is an Asset Strategy and Risk Engineer for Hydro Tasmania, a generation utility in Tasmania. She is currently working with the Battery of the Nation initiative, exploring a vision where Tasmania plays a significantly increased role in the NEM. Pippa’s professional interests are future-focussed asset management and renewable energy integration.

Download accompanying report | Download.

Nuclear Energy Technology: pathways for Australia and the world
February 21, 2018 - Ben Heard

Nuclear Energy Technology: pathways for Australia and the world

The use of nuclear power technologies is in a state of great flux, with a cohort of seemingly contradictory evidence regarding its current performance and future potential. This webinar will explore the changing face of nuclear technology world-wide, exploring the successes, the failures, the challenges and the opportunities, including the development of small high temperature reactors. After a global examination, the webinar will look more closely at the Australian energy market and explore the potential role for nuclear technologies and both the barriers and opportunities relating to its late adoption in Australia.

About the speaker

Ben Heard, Founder and Executive Director at Bright New World

Ben is a highly qualified sustainability professional, now focused on the role of nuclear technologies in enhancing human prosperity and the natural environment. He has recently completed doctoral studies at the University of Adelaide (currently under assessment) with a thesis called Clean. Reliable. Affordable: The role of nuclear technology in 21st century energy supply. His first published paper won the 2016 Publication Medal from the Royal Society of South Australia, and his third paper is the #1 ranked altmetric for the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. He was closely involved in the process of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, and provided testimony to the Join Committee reviewing the Royal Commission findings. He was a member of the Public Advisory Panel for the siting of the Federal government’s low and intermediate level radioactive waste storage and disposal facility.

Ben completed a Masters in Corporate Sustainability at Monash University and spent several years in stakeholder consultation and communications for complex sustainability issues like native and plantation forestry industries, legacy toxic waste sites and transport infrastructure.

He worked in major projects in climate change adaptation (and mitigation. This led to the establishment of his own small consulting firm in South Australia. In 2011, he became a public figure representing the case for nuclear technologies as environmentally beneficial, particularly in relation to climate change mitigation. Through his blog, Decarbonise SA, he tracked this journey and helped to build a growing international community. He now operates a membership-based, non-governmental organisation to represent this community in the public arena via submissions, presentations, articles, research and media work, in Australia and internationally.

The State of the Electricity Market - Now and in the Future
November 29, 2017 - Ivan Slavich & Caoimhin Ardren

The State of the Electricity Market - Now and in the Future

Energy Action has a detailed understanding of the National Energy Market and the changes that are occurring. The presenters will discuss in some detail:

• Current energy market volatility
  
• Their 5 year view on the future state of the energy market
  
• The changing Engineering considerations for the future including the development of
  
  • Embedded Networks and Microgrids
    
  • Onsite generation
    
  • 2019 National Construction Code (section J update – Energy Efficiency) 

As some background - Energy Action has been helping businesses of all sizes understand and take control of their energy needs for nearly 20 years. They are recognised as Australia's leading energy management firm. They have assisted over 5,000 businesses, government entities and not-for-profits who have decided to minimise their energy spend, consumption and carbon emissions.

About the presenters

Ivan Slavich – CEO

Ivan has extensive experience in the energy sector, with over 22 years in a variety of senior management and executive roles at AGL Energy and ActewAGL. During this time, ActewAGL cemented its place as the pre‐eminent energy retailer in the ACT and the Capital Region, with outstanding customer retention and bundling of innovative services with TransACT.

Caoimhin Ardren - Projects & Advisory Services Director

Caoimhin has over 25 years in the built environment sector, covering project management, asset commissioning and energy management. He is the author and assessor of the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) Retrofit Project Manager accreditation scheme and recognised as an expert in project & commissioning management of energy retrofit projects in commercial buildings.