Port Augusta, a hybrid wind – solar proyect implemented in Australia

Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park (PAREP) is Iberdrola’s first renewable energy park in Australia.
It comprises of 50 wind turbines and 250,000 solar modules together with associated infrastructure, to produce a total installed capacity of almost 320 megawatts (MW) of clean renewable energy. It generates enough clean energy to meet the annual needs of 180,000 Australian homes, contributing to reduce electricity prices for consumers and to decarbonising the economy with an emissions saving of approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of CO2 annually.

Elecnor is one of the leading corporations in project development, construction and operation through two major mutually-enriching business areas: Infrastructure and Concessions.
Infrastructure, renewable energy and new technologies are the main areas of activity in which the Infrastructure and Concessions businesses are involved.
In Australia, Elecnor via its local subsidiary Greenlight Contractors, played the role of EPC, BOP, civil engineering and electromechanical design for this pioneering project which when complete will be one of the southern hemisphere’s largest hybrid renewable power stations.

Connection to the electricity grid presents one of the key challenges for energy projects in general and renewable energy projects in particular.

This process has become especially fraught since the South Australian blackout in September 2016, which resulted in significant changes to the National Electricity Rules (NER), which dictate the conditions surrounding connection to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Moreover, large scale hybrid projects such as PAREP, encompassing wind and solar generation, require meticulous planning and execution to ensure a successful, on time, on budget project outcome. This necessitated close collaboration and open communication between stakeholders – Elecnor, switchroom manufacturer PSD Energy and Ormazabal.

“The primary challenge for the project was a flexibility needed in a rapidly changing environment. Ormazabal assisted greatly with their ability to provide timely responses to customer queries in a collaborative and proactive manner”.Carlos Felipe del Valle Sierra Lead Project Manager – Elecnor

Ormazabal Australia supplied 31 units of 36kV 2500A 31.5kA 1s, IAC AFLR 31,5kA/1s
cpg .0 panels for the grid connection station. The 31 cpg .0 panels were divided into 3 separate switchboards, all interconnected, in a combined 25 meters long switch room.

Ormazabal Solution: cpg.0-v cpg.0-f cpg.0-s   31 units of 36kV 2500A 31.5kA 1s, IAC AFLR 31,5kA/1s cpg.0.

Ormazabal Solution:

For the project Elecnor also chose to directly procure and free issue protection systems to the Ormazabal factory. Ormazabal subsequently incorporated this requirement into its manufacturing plan highlighting its ability to adapt to differing customer requirements.

Ormazabal has extensive experience of providing grid connection switchboards. However, in addition to supplying switchgear for the project, Ormazabal’s scope also included joining forces with switchroom manufacturer PSD Energy with the joint objective of delivering a complete and tested substation package at the manufacturing facility prior to shipment to the remote Port Augusta site some 300kms away.

Forced limitations due to COVID 19 restrictions, the project also benefited from utilizing local based staff to undertake the switchgear installation under the direct supervision of Ormazabal.

Systematic training and supervision of the experienced PSD Energy staff enabled the coordinated installation of switchgear at the same time as switchroom manufacture and fitout with a direct benefit of reducing delivery leadtime for the customer.

The cpg.0 switchgear also included Ormazabal’s IAC chimney system integrated into the design for the venting of gases outside the switch room ensuring a safe environment for operator staff.

Ormazabal undertook the initial FAT at its factory in Boroa Spain. This enabled both Elecnor and Iberdrola European colleagues to inspect and assess the switchgear prior to sea shipment. Ormazabal logistics team packaged and delivered switchgear within 4 x 40ft HC containers.

Following international shipping, the factory FAT was complemented with a secondary more detailed FAT at the switchroom manufacturing facility in Adelaide. In addition to the standard Australian based electrical and mechanical FAT tests to identify a prospective issue prior to the final shipment to Iberdrola’s Port Augusta site, a hi-pot test of 56kV for 1 minute was also applied to all panels. This was to provide customer certainty prior to shipment and mitigate any risks of delays during final commissioning.

Installation of the 31 primary panels inclusive of FAT was completed within 4 weeks. A final site acceptance test was also undertaken to complete the quality process.

Ormazabal Challenge:

Connection to the electricity grid presents one of the key challenges for energy projects in general and renewable energy projects in particular.

This process has become especially fraught since the South Australian blackout in September 2016, which resulted in significant changes to the National Electricity Rules (NER), which dictate the conditions surrounding connection to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Moreover, large scale hybrid projects such as PAREP, encompassing wind and solar generation, require meticulous planning and execution to ensure a successful, on time, on budget project outcome. This necessitated close collaboration and open communication between stakeholders – Elecnor, switchroom manufacturer PSD Energy and Ormazabal.

Key benefits to client:

• Ormazabal’s extensive experience in delivering connecting points enabled a flexible and pragmatic approach to delivering a timely project outcome in a rapidly changing environment.
• The solid insulation busbar system utilized in the cpg .0 solution negates the need to work with SF6 gas during switchgear installation. This enabled simpler installation during switch-room fit-out, thus saving time.
• Combining the well documented training and supervision from Ormazabal, with locally engaged partners whom are conversant with local compliance requirements such as PSD Energy, meant that we could be flexible throughout the project duration with regards to scope changes
• A partnering approach with the switch-room manufacturer ensured the installation of switchgear could commence during switch-room fit-out, generating much needed time savings for Elecnor.