Remote Power Station Upgrade: Renewable Integration for Reliable, Lower-Emission Energy

Background

In very remote South Australian townships, electricity supply has long depended on diesel generation, resulting in high fuel costs, delivery challenges, and increasing maintenance pressures.

SAGE Automation collaborated with project partners to develop the electrical and control infrastructure for the new remote power station. The project centred on delivering a new power station with high levels of renewable energy penetration supported by a battery energy storage system.

The overall project aims were clear:

• Reduce diesel consumption
• Improve power station efficiency
• Maintain safe, reliable and cost effective ‑ electricity for local customers
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions

The remote location, unsealed roads and extreme temperatures meant it was essential that equipment, control systems and designs were durable and maintainable over the long term.

This required careful coordination of new solar generation, battery systems and diesel generation, all operating within a robust control and protection framework.

By leveraging SAGE’s knowledge with existing remote power stations in SA and NT the team applied standardised designs and templates that provided efficiencies and scalability across very remote energy assets. This approach ensured the program’s strategic objectives were translated into a quality, schedule and long term ‑ maintainability solution for the customer.

Looking forward, the upgraded power station and integrated control architecture will support more efficient operations of generation assets, reduce diesel generator maintenance requirements, and provide improved visibility of site performance.

Services Provided

SAGE Automation delivered the full design and manufacture of the main switchboard responsible for the site power management, including feeders and interfaces to all generation equipment. A dedicated remote switching panel was supplied to enable both local and remote operation of critical circuit breakers.

SAGE also supplied an auxiliary generator connection panel and a weather station for the site. Remote terminal unit programming was delivered, including development of the interface to distributed energy resources and the microgrid controller. A single line diagram mimic for supervisory control and data acquisition was produced using standardised pop‑ups and faceplates, and the site was integrated into existing remote reporting.

During commissioning, SAGE provided engineering resources to support control and monitoring of the switchboards and fuel system on site. A remote supervisory control and data acquisition engineering resource also supported testing of devices back to the cloud‑hosted and central powerhouse supervisory systems, ensuring that data flows and control functionality aligned with the project requirements.

Challenges

SAGE has extensive experience operating in very remote sites, for the project delivery SAGE worked with stakeholders to ensure the project was delivered on schedule, to quality and compliance standards.

Customer Benefits

• Reduced diesel consumption and associated fuel delivery risk for a very remote community
• Increased station efficiency through upgraded control, protection and switchboard design
• Improved visibility and control of generation and fuel systems
• Enhanced long‑term maintainability through scalable designs
• and lower annual greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation 

SAGE Added Value

• Application of standard designs and templates to reduce cost, schedule and technical risk
• Integrated offering that combines engineering, switchboard manufacture, service and training capability within one organisation
• Independent system integration approach that avoids lock‑in to a single proprietary platform
• Use of type‑tested modular switchboard systems to support safety, reliability and compliance
• Ongoing support options for asset improvement, maintenance and operator training across the power station lifecycle, including remote monitoring and support from the SAGE 24/7 National Operations Centre.

Lessons Learnt

• Leveraging existing client standards and templates can significantly streamline design while improving consistency across remote sites
• Clear definition of scope boundaries between civil, mechanical, electrical and control responsibilities reduces ambiguity
• Proactive consideration of global supply chain volatility is necessary to manage delivery timeframes and cost exposure on critical equipment
• Designing with whole‑of‑life operation and maintenance in mind improves asset reliability and supports sustainable outcomes for remote area energy schemes

Deliverables

• • Main switchboard design and manufacture
  • Remote switching panel for local and remote circuit breaker operation
  • Auxiliary generator connection panel supply
  • Weather station supply to client specification
  • Remote terminal unit programming
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition single line diagram mimic development
  • Integration into existing remote reporting environment
  • Commissioning support for switchboards, fuel system monitoring and control

Technology

• Modular low‑voltage switchboard system type‑tested to relevant Australian and international standards
• Schneider Electric moulded case circuit breakers and power metering devices
• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories protection relays for feeders and solar interface
• Remote terminal unit programmed for integration with distributed energy resources
• Supervisory control and data acquisition system utilising RAES standard graphics and reports
• Interfaces to solar photovoltaic arrays, battery energy storage system and diesel generators
  
  
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