Playford Relocation and Transmission Line Diversions

Works included increasing the transformer capacity, which converted Davenport into a new electricity hub with enhanced reliability for both the Eyre Peninsula and the Upper North of South Australia. 

The customer

ElectraNet is a specialist in electricity transmission, providing energy and infrastructure solutions across Australia. Their core business is to build, own, operate, maintain, and develop the electricity highways that transport electricity over long distances, to urban centres and to remote areas. ElectraNet own over $2.5 billion of electricity assets and have one of the highest network reliability levels in Australia. Today their network is made up of over 5,600 circuit kilometres of transmission lines and over 90 high voltage substations, covering an area of over 200,000 square kilometres. They also own the largest private telecommunications network in South Australia, which facilitates the remote monitoring and operating of the transmission network.

The opportunity

In 2010, the 132kV Switchyard at Playford A was relocated to the Davenport Substation, fulfilling the purpose for which the Davenport Substation was developed - to allow for the eventual relocation of the Switchyard at Playford A, consolidating electricity infrastructure at the Davenport site. This also allowed for the retirement of the aged plant and equipment at Playford A. 

Works included increasing the transformer capacity, which converted Davenport into a new electricity hub with enhanced reliability for both the Eyre Peninsula and the Upper North of South Australia. 

There were three stages to this project, stage one involving substation design, supply, construction and commissioning. Stage two included transmission line design, supply, construction and commissioning and stage 3 included the communications design, supply, construction and commissioning. 

The solution

THIS SUBSTATION RELOCATION SCOPE INCLUDED:

• Construction of 160MVA transformer bays with associated 275kV plant
• Construction of a new 132kV yard bench, which required in excess of 50,000 m3 bulk earthworks
• Design, supply, installation and commissioning of the required 132kV plant at Davenport & Playford substations
• Procurement, design, installation and commissioning of new protection and control systems, radio and fibre links between substations
• On site refurbishment of 1 x 160MVA transformer