The future of energy generation and storage

[Smurf1976]

FWIW significant problems both SA and NSW at present.

NSW - in short there's a lot of twisted metal lying on the ground which, until that happened, was the transmission line running to Broken Hill. Supply to the area is now reliant on local generation, in particular the 2 x 25MW gas turbines (diesel-fired). 7 towers are down apparently.

For those in WA, that situation with Broken Hill is directly comparable to that in Kalgoorlie. A single 220kV line and other than that there's some limited local generation. And both are, of course, mining areas.

For SA there's been a similar incident due to the storms last night. Still being assessed.

 

[Smurf1976]

For SA there's been a similar incident due to the storms last night.

As an update, the extent of damage is substantial indeed. Not a good situation......

Note that Davenport is near Port Augusta.

Four towers down on the Davenport to Pimba 132kV line and 3 towers down on the privately owned (by BHP) Davenport to Olympic Dam 275kV line.

Explaining that a bit, these two are effectively going to the same place despite different voltages and owners.

132kV runs Davenport > Pimba > Olympic Dam

275kV runs Davenport > Olympic Dam

With a 132:275 transformer at Olympic Dam. So effectively two lines from Davenport to OD, both of which are damaged.

Practical effect is Olympic Dam mine, other mines in the area fed from OD's substation, and the surrounding towns are now without any connection to the main grid. There are some diesel generators at Olympic Dam (owned by BHP) continuing essential "keep safe" type operations and providing supply to towns etc but the mine's shut as such, the generators have nowhere near sufficient capacity to run it.

Now for the next problem, six Stobie poles are damaged in the 132kV line between Brinkworth and Bungama. This is south of Port Augusta / North of Adelaide and of relatively minor consequence. It's a nuisance.

And there's 19 towers down on the Davenport to Leigh Creek 132kV line which is a more substantial problem, there being no other supply at all to the area and noting this line is tapped off along the way to supply other towns also. Current plan is to install diesel generators and run these towns as separate islanded (off-grid) small systems until the line can be restored which is likely to take some time. All up there's ~800 customers involved. Aim is to have the generators in over the next few days.

That's separate to the line down in NSW to Broken Hill.

 

[Smurf1976]

NSW - in short there's a lot of twisted metal lying on the ground which, until that happened, was the transmission line running to Broken Hill. Supply to the area is now reliant on local generation

It was going so well until 17:40 when the generation failed, leaving Broken Hill and surrounds completely blacked out.

That wasn't the plan......

 

[SirRumpole]

It was going so well until 17:40 when the generation failed, leaving Broken Hill and surrounds completely blacked out.

That wasn't the plan......

Will take weeks to repair apparently.

 

[finicky]

Won't bother Chris Bowen in a few years.

 

[Smurf1976]

Will take weeks to repair apparently.

Broken Hill and surrounds are presently running on diesel but at least they have power.

That hasn't been continuous however, there was a 6 hour outage of the generator overnight on Monday morning, and a far more serious 24.5 hour failure from Monday afternoon to late Tuesday afternoon.

So off for 6 hours, back on for 11 hours, then off for 24.5 hours, now back on.

Here's a chart that shows its output:

Generator off, under present circumstances, means no supply at all.

Noting the mines are shut, the generator's just supplying homes, small business etc.

 

[mullokintyre]

Broken Hill and surrounds are presently running on diesel but at least they have power.

That hasn't been continuous however, there was a 6 hour outage of the generator overnight on Monday morning, and a far more serious 24.5 hour failure from Monday afternoon to late Tuesday afternoon.

So off for 6 hours, back on for 11 hours, then off for 24.5 hours, now back on.

Here's a chart that shows its output:

View attachment 186418

Generator off, under present circumstances, means no supply at all.

Noting the mines are shut, the generator's just supplying homes, small business etc.

not a problem, Broken Hill is not in one of the Capital cities, its out the back of beyond which does not count.
mick /sarc

 

[SirRumpole]

Broken Hill and surrounds are presently running on diesel but at least they have power.

That hasn't been continuous however, there was a 6 hour outage of the generator overnight on Monday morning, and a far more serious 24.5 hour failure from Monday afternoon to late Tuesday afternoon.

So off for 6 hours, back on for 11 hours, then off for 24.5 hours, now back on.

Here's a chart that shows its output:

View attachment 186418

Generator off, under present circumstances, means no supply at all.

Noting the mines are shut, the generator's just supplying homes, small business etc.

And 37C days. Very warm.

 

[qldfrog]

And 37C days. Very warm.

A bit coolish for the area
As implied before, sadly not in the right place to affect the city masses

 

[IFocus]

Broken Hill and surrounds are presently running on diesel but at least they have power.

That hasn't been continuous however, there was a 6 hour outage of the generator overnight on Monday morning, and a far more serious 24.5 hour failure from Monday afternoon to late Tuesday afternoon.

So off for 6 hours, back on for 11 hours, then off for 24.5 hours, now back on.

Here's a chart that shows its output:

View attachment 186418

Generator off, under present circumstances, means no supply at all.

Noting the mines are shut, the generator's just supplying homes, small business etc.

A bit of a look into what's coming for the rest of Australia, not too far off.

 

[sptrawler]

This doesn't sound good either.

Gas industry in damage control as landmark study finds LNG 'worse than coal' for the climate

For years, the mantra from the industry has been that gas is a bridge between coal and renewable energy. A landmark study has sensationally challenged that idea.

www.abc.net.au