2009-06-12 - ABB is upgrading TransGrid’s network management system to secure power supply throughout the state of New South Wales and ensure that Australia’s business and political capitals have a constant and reliable supply of power, even in critical situations.
By ABB Communications
TransGrid owns, operates and manages the high voltage power transmission network in New South Wales - the most populous state in the country with almost seven million inhabitants and home to Australia’s largest city (Sydney, pictured below) and Canberra, the nation’s capital.
The TransGrid network is of vital importance not only to New South Wales but to the entire eastern third of the Australian continent through its grid interconnections with the two neighboring states of Queensland and Victoria. About three-quarters of the country’s population and much of its economy lie within the three states.
To ensure that the network operates in accordance with stringent regulatory targets for grid reliability, TransGrid has appointed ABB to upgrade the network management system that monitors and controls the 12,500 kilometers of high voltage transmission lines and 83 substations and power plant switchyards that make up the state power grid.
To meet the most stringent regulatory targets for grid reliability in Australia, ABB is upgrading a monitoring and control system in New South Wales that oversees 12,500 kms of high voltage transmission lines and scores of substations and switchyards.
The ABB upgrade will strengthen grid performance in vital areas like system security, and equip the network management system with a broad sweep of advanced capabilities to handle critical situations and prevent them from developing into supply interruptions or outages.
TransGrid is a major part of one of the most extensive power transmissions systems in the world, and is interconnected with systems in states of Victoria and Queensland.
The solution will enhance TransGrid’s already high levels of system security, supply reliability and network availability by boosting its preparedness for disasters and emergencies like bushfires or terrorist activity that can interrupt power supply and reduce grid reliability.
It includes a disaster recovery facility to maintain reliability during crisis situations, and will provide facilities that support a reduced number of regional control centres.
ABB will upgrade its existing Network Manager SCADA/EMS (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, Energy Management System) installation for the TransGrid network to meet the new requirements.
The best network manager available
Network Manager monitors, controls and operates in real time power transmission and distribution networks, power generation operations, energy trading systems and smart grid networks. It is the world’s leading network management system with more than 400 installations worldwide.
Other significant Network Manager solutions in Australia include a network management system for the Queensland power grid, operated by Ergon Energy; an energy trading system for the state of Western Australia; and a network management system for Rio Tinto’s US$7 billion expansion of its extensive iron ore facilities in Western Australia.