Overview

Our client, Commercial Building Projects, was engaged to expand the existing commercial enterprise with an additional 3MVA of electrical load. Our electrical engineers and consulting engineers considered several options to provide additional capacity while maintaining electricity supply to the 24 hour, 7 day per week operation. The expansion of the commercial operation created limitations on potential substation sites, so our electrical consulting engineers worked closely with the building services electrical engineer, civil engineers, electrical contractors and Energex to develop a suitable concept that would allow the substation to remain energised during construction.

Our electrical engineers produced an Energex approved design that allowed for expanded substation footprint and installation of two additional 1500kVA oil type transformers and one additional 11kV RMU. Upgrade the existing 11kV cable into the substation and installation of an additional 11kV cable from the substation back to the network to facilitate recovery of two span of 11kV overhead mains.

Our electrical engineers utilised an 11kV RMU with CFCF arrangement to allow for the connection of the two proposed transformers and secured an easement over the expanded substation and 11kV cables inside private property.

As part of this development road works were undertaken along the property frontage. The consulting engineers included a small land resumption moving the new property line approximately 1m inside property. The electrical engineers allowed for the substation to be common earthed with the existing LV network via a 120mm² copper earth tie to the overhead powerlines.

Associated engineering consultants

The outdoor substation was structurally designed by engineering consultants – Projects & Designs. Substation drainage has been designed by engineering consultants – Compass Consulting Group.

An Environmental Management Plan was prepared by environmental consultants – Butler Partners Pty Ltd.

Accredited Energex contractors – the substation was constructed by CB Energy.