The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC) made 67 recommendations to reduce the risk of future catastrophic bushfires following the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. One of the recommendations was the targeted implementation of Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL) to reduce the risk of powerline related bushfires.
Subsequently, in August 2018, the Essential Services Commission changed the Victorian Electricity Distribution Code allowing the use of the REFCL technology (REFCL) in Electricity Distribution Networks.
A REFCL is a type of electricity network protection device that operates similar to a safety switch. The REFCL limits the amount of energy released at the location of a fault when an earth fault occurs on a powerline:
- Cardinia-Silvan Pump Station (WP258)
- Thomson Hydro (WZ083)
- Bells Portal (WH080)
- Silvan Hydro (WZ010)
- Olinda Hydro (WZ019
Scope of Work
The following are a summary of the key physical components of the scope of work for the project:
- Silvan Hydro Power Plant – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design and VT replacement works, Supply and install of Protection and metering VTs
- Cardinia – Silvan Pumping Station – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design, supplying and Installing of new VTs, CTs and Surge Arrestors. Cleaning the Switchgear
- Thomson Hydro Power Plant – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design, Supply and installation of Protection and metering VTs
- Olinda Hydro Station – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design, Supply and installation of Protection and metering VTs.
- Bells Portal Pumping Station:
- Electrical Works – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design, Installation of 3 new Poles (Pole 2, 3 and 4), Lowering the existing 3 transformers, Installing new VTs, Auxiliary Transformer and Surge Arrestors
- Civil Works – Non-Destructive Digging (NDD) earth proving works, installing a new fence around the 3 poles, Installing a local earth grid
- Upper Yarra Hydro Power Plant – Protection Study, Protection Setting Changes, PLC/SCADA Design and VT replacement works, Supply and install of Protection and metering VTs.
Innovation & Complexity
SFP’s key drivers for the project are the following:
- Ensuring all works are delivered safely;
- Minimising impact to all stakeholders, including MW Operations and the general public;
- Staging of the works to reduce outages, project cost, duration and risk;
- Maintaining close communication and coordination with MW Operations.
Project Outcomes
Safety
Safety was managed by consulting between project team members, field personnel as well as various Melbourne Water delivery personnel.
A Safety Management Plan (SMP) and HSEQ resources were utilised to oversee all safety requirements ensuring agreed process compliance as well as maintaining client and project inductions and adhering to Covid-19 safety regulations.
Quality
SFP has focused on delivering an integrated, collaborative team environment to encourage open, honest, and efficient sharing of information, and ensuring Project deliverables are manufactured to engineering drawings and specifications while monitored by qualified personnel conducting quality inspections and audits to ensure all products meet the specifications.
Environmental
SFP has committed to completing internal environmental audits as well as ensuring workers are provided with training to enable work practices that are safe and minimise risk to the environment, whilst promoting a positive reporting culture, ensureing all environmental observations, hazards and near misses and incidents are entered into INX.
Key Staff Involved
Isuru Dissanayake
Project Manager
Adem Catic
Electrical Supervisor
Sesh Salvapantula
Design Engineer
Rod Lowe
Civil Supervisor
Jody Friend
Construction Manager
Andrew Lipkewycz
HSEQ
Y10219