Transgrid has published the Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) for Maintaining compliance with performance standards applicable to secondary systems at Sydney East substation. Publication of this Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) represents the first step in the RIT-T process.
The secondary systems assets are subject to technological obsolescence. This means that the technology is no longer being manufactured or supported. Reactive replacement of failed secondary systems components is not sustainable and impacts our ability to meet the requirements of the National Electricity Rules (NER).
Secondary systems assets at Sydney East substation are facing technological obsolescence, increasing the time to reactively rectify faults and increasing the risk that primary assets at the substation may not be able to reliably operate.
Redundant protection schemes are required to ensure the transmission system is adequately protected as outlined in the Network Performance Requirement under Schedule 5.1 of the National Electricity Rules (NER), therefore the condition issues affecting the identified protection relays on the ACT and NSW transmission network must be addressed.
If the failure to provide functional secondary systems due to technology obsolescence is not addressed by a technically and commercially feasible credible option in sufficient time (by 2027/28), the likelihood of not recovering from secondary systems faults and not maintaining compliance with NER performance requirements will increase. The proposed investment will enable us to continue to meet the standards for secondary systems availability set out in the NER, and to avoid the impacts of taking primary assets out of service.
In the PSCR Transgrid has presented two credible network options that would meet the identified need from a technical, commercial, and project delivery perspective. The optimal commercially and technically feasible option presented in this PSCR – Option 2 (complete in-situ replacement of all secondary systems at the site) – is the preferred option to meet the identified need at this stage of the RIT-T.
Transgrid welcomes written submissions on materials contained in this PSCR. Submissions are due on 31 January 2024.
In accordance with the requirements of the Rules, a summary of the Project Specification Consultation Report is made available on the AEMO website. A copy of the PSCR can be obtained from Transgrid’s website or by emailing regulatory.consultation@transgrid.com.au.