The small county town of Denham, Western Australia, about 100kms from Carnarvon, looks to become a model host to a new energy solution.

Denham is home to about 700 Australians. For the past twenty years, Denham’s electricity has been sourced from a combination of  diesel and wind-generated power. Horizon own and operate the diesel facility, with the wind farm owned by Synergy. Both the current assets are aging, ready for disposal.

The eight towers at the defunct Hazelwood Power Station in Morwell, Victoria, came tumbling down on Monday in a controlled demolition that highlights the end of an era.

The 137 metre¹ chimney assets operated for more than fifty years before the brown coal-fired power station was shut down in 2017. During its years of operation, the generating units collectively produced 1600MW of electricity and the power station provided more than twenty-five percent of power to Victorians².

The energy sector is undergoing rapid change. For those working in the sector, keeping up to date with knowledge in order to help the business build value from effective asset management.

With renewable energy options becoming more the norm, and the brown coal-fired plants of old being disused and repurposed, it is timely to re-establish standards and protocols in systems, operation, and management. Bring in new frameworks to ensure system security and efficient capacity, and coordinate new forecasting to anticipate restraints in service and enhanced intelligence surrounding decision-making tools.

All power transmission companies seek to provide high quality electricity to their customers at the lowest possible price. In order to be able to support this service, a well-maintained, efficiently operated and reliable network is essential. This is achieved through asset management, as, at its core, when aligned with the nature and value of an organisation, stakeholder engagement, and business objectives, asset management links operability with revenue.  

The nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima are fresh in the minds of many Australians. Geographically distant, yet the images that splashed across our television screens caused a groundswell of close, collective horror. Even now, some thirty years since Chernobyl, and Fukushima, almost a decade, public fear over nuclear power plants and reactors remain high.

The Commonwealth of Australia currently bans nuclear energy and has done since 1998¹. Recently, however, submissions were invited for an inquiry into the consideration of future nuclear energy generations in Australia.

What does the inquiry mean for asset management in the energy sector?

Renewable energy seems to be an answer to the current climate crisis. The coal-fired plants are aging and many believe they are responsible for excessive greenhouse gas emissions. However, what happens when the wind isn’t tickling the leaves on trees, or the sun isn’t shining in the sky? Reliance on intermittent energy sources is problematic, as power cannot be generated during those times of darkness or stillness.

The energy sector is undergoing incredible changes. Over the past few years, there has been a shift to move away from coal-fired energy generation, in light of the growing concern with greenhouse gas emissions and its effect on the climate. With the closure of coal-fired energy plants, and new renewable energy sources popping up around the landscape, energy companies are finding a need to repurpose aging assets.

The cold and blustery Canberra evening didn’t prevent the rollup of dedicated engineers and professionals to listen to EESA National president, Jeff Allen and AMCouncil Canberra Chapter Chair, Mike Schulzer talk about Managing Change in the Electric Energy Industry.

There is a lot in the news at the moment regarding climate change and the state of emergency the world is in. The effects of greenhouse gases (GHG) already emitted are considered wholly irreversible, and unless there is a targeted, collective approach to lowering carbon emissions, the world is doomed. Exactly how the world is doomed is unclear: no scientist or futurist is able to give a definitive forecast of how the earth will look if the advice to lower carbon emissions remains unheeded.

But to do nothing is to risk everything.

Tuesday 12th May saw the Brisbane Chapter host an internationally attended webinar of over 300 delegates on disruption in asset management. This informative session was provided by Denise Brown from Powerlink.

At AMSPEAK, delegates were intrigued by the presentation by Michael Lesnie, Senior Associate from Qubist¹, outlining the juxtaposition of small asset renewal projects in the utilities sector, and the capital expenditure of the business.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded $15 million¹ funding into research for solar PV panels and to support end of life initiatives for the decommissioning of these panels.

Critical infrastructure is the link that binds us together. It is our infrastructure that protects communities from hazards, provides essential services such as energy and water, and it connects us to each other through transport and communication assets¹.

The South Australian Government recently announced major plans and investment into reducing energy costs in government buildings.

The $60 million commitment is expected to generate hundreds of local jobs, as tradies provide retrofits to existing building assets. Older buildings can get very hot in summer, yet by simply upgrading lighting and insulation, installing air-conditioning and adding sensors and energy management software programs, these government buildings can improve energy efficiency ratings, while also ensuring they are more comfortable and healthier places to work¹.

Energy from waste (EfW) is an emerging technology that seeks to maximise the value from waste as a resource. It has clear benefits to society, making the world greener through reducing landfill and increasing the effectiveness of the circular economy.

It has been said many times before that we are living in extremely challenging times. The terrain of enforced shut down caused by the coronavirus pandemic across towns and cities globally is unchartered. Nobody knows precisely what is best. Decisions made represent a fine balancing act between the health of people and the economic stability of the country. These are not mutually exclusive; most readers will be aware that economic stability in any country vastly improves the health of that country’s inhabitants.

The Gippsland Basin Joint Venture West Barracouta project is up and running, delivering gas to eastern Australia.

The largest proven yet undeveloped gas field off the coast of south-eastern Australia received a $400 million investment¹ and will now curb the potential gas shortage that had been projected for the eastern states as early as two years from now.

With over 200 electricity substations, 500,000 power poles, 30,000 distribution substations and almost 50,000km of below and above ground electricity cables, the Ausgrid electricity network provides power to over 1.6 million homes and businesses throughout the greater Sydney area...

Join us on Friday, 4th October for our Implementing Asset Management in Government Symposium. Read on for a sneak peek of just one of the topics that we will be exploring during the day.

The 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit was announced on Tuesday 13^th August by Infrastructure Australia, the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor. The audit promises a forward-view of Australia’s challenges to protecting and advancing our infrastructure.