Maintaining a safe network
We continued to participate in a wide range of industry working groups and forums, with both Australian and international network service providers, enabling Transgrid to keep abreast of industry best practice approaches, emerging issues and trends.
Repairing after the bushfires
The FY20 bushfires impacted 9 per cent of the Transgrid network, damaging infrastructure and creating hazardous access conditions. After the design, planning and procurement during FY21, around 50 per cent of the infrastructure repair works and access remediation works were completed in FY22 at a total cost of $20 million.
Repairing with drone technology
Drones were used to assist with safely restringing transmission lines near Tumut in the challenging environment of the Snowy Mountains. Individual conductors were replaced by using the drones to string in close proximity to existing overhead earth wires/conductors, fly through the centre of transmission towers and tension string above existing vegetation. Using the new stringing methods delivered significant cost savings, reduced outage windows, improved worker safety and eliminated the need for a full rebuild of damaged transmission lines.
Works on other major lines, have commenced and are expected to be completed in FY23. During the year, an independent review of Transgrid’s approach to managing bushfire risks found no minor concerns.
Upgrading metering systems
As part of AEMO’s transition away from the 15-minute market settlement, we upgraded our market metering systems to be five-minute settlement capable.
More than 740 meters of the network were upgraded and supported by metering database updates, changes to AEMO’s market settlement database and updates to metering design documentation.
The project has ensured our ongoing compliance with NER, Metering Coordinator and Metering Provider compliance obligations.
Strengthening substation physical security
We continued to roll out Transgrid’s physical security upgrade program, with Kemps Creek Substation completed in June 2022. This substation now has intruder tracking, smart-site monitoring and incident review capabilities. The new technology already supports intelligent security analytics to detect suspicious activities prior to breaches occurring. In future, it can be upgraded with biometrics and facial recognition security.
Preparing for the digital substation future
Transgrid’s new digital substation in Stockdill is IEC 61850-9 compliant. Digital substations are smaller, easier to maintain and have reduced cabling and trenching requirements.
The modern grid depends on a communication network. During the year, we began the move to a modern MPLS-TP Ethernet-based network, replacing the current fleet of Synchronous Digital Hierarchy multiplexers. This new technology will increase the bandwidth of our communications systems, allowing us to enhance our real-time asset monitoring and our operational capabilities within an increasingly complex energy system. Over $15 million has been committed for the entire project, with approximately 100 locations planned to be transitioned to the MPLSTP technology suite.
Asset management programs completed during FY22
- Gadara Secondary Systems Renewal
- Marulan Secondary Systems Renewal
- Line 3W - Kangaroo Valley - Capital - Refurbishment
- Sydney West Dynamic Voltage Support Refurbishment
- Line 8 - Marulan - Dapto - Refurbishment
- 22 - Sydney North - Vales Point Line Refurbishment
- Armidale 415V AC Distribution Replacement
- 132kV TL Wood Pole Replacement – Line 99A Uranquinty to Finley
- Line 959-92Z Renewal
- Tomago Substation Renewal
- SCADA CIS20 Implementation