NOJA Power Intelligent Switchgear
- $5m Funded by ARENA
- $19.98m Total project cost
Summary
This NOJA Power Intelligent Switchgear project aims to reduce the complexity and cost of connecting renewables to the grid, and increase the hosting capacity of distribution networks by developing, demonstrating and industrialising an economical intelligent switchgear.
This device can capture high-resolution real-time network data and can provide protection, control, and monitoring solutions to facilitate the connection of renewables to the grid.
Key results
This project successfully designed, developed, and tested intelligent switchgear products combined with unique electronic controllers that specifically target the requirements of Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) to connect renewable energy resources to the electricity grid.
- The products can address the protection challenges associated with renewable resources integration, thus increasing the hosting capacity of the electricity network by precise wide-area measurements and real-time monitoring capabilities.
- The project has implemented a world-first large-scale synchrophasor measurement in a medium-voltage. The state-of-the-art recloser controller RC20, which has been designed, industrialized, and manufactured by NOJA Power, can measure and transmit high-resolution PMU data to a cloud storage with the integrated 4G modem and Sim card.
- The large-scale installation of RC20 units includes 50 units installed in the Energy Queensland network and another 50 units installed in AusNet Services network. The installed PMUs provide high-resolution data from these networks that tools such as SCADA are unable to provide.
- A comprehensive data analytics software and dashboard have been developed in this project to access, present, and analyse the generated PMU data from all the installed devices. The PMU data has been implemented for post event analysis, real-time power quality, data monitoring, alert system, stability analysis, load and network characterization, and impact of renewables on system stability and voltage profile.
Further development is under way to implement PMU data in islanding detection and control of DER, accurate state estimation, protection coordination, and fault identification and location detection.
Learn more
Report: NOJA Power Intelligent Switchgear Final
This report presents the findings from the Intelligent Switchgear project and specifically discusses development of the switchgear, data analysis, system planning and real-time operation, grid hosting capacity, and event analysis.
Presentation: Synchrophasors in the Distribution Network
Martin Van Der Linde and Mehdi Mosadeghy from NOJA Power present a webinar about Synchrophasors in the Distribution Network.
Media Release: NOJA Power’s Intelligent Network Control Device to Capture Real-Time Data on Energy Networks
ARENA announced funding for Brisbane-based energy tech company NOJA Power to develop breakthrough technology to solve the challenges of ensuring the electricity grid is stable as renewable energy is integrated.
Presentation: Intelligent Switchgear with Phasor Measurement Unit
This presentation was given by Mehdi Mosadeghy from NOJA Power at the ARENA Insights Forum on 30 November 2018.
Need
The NOJA Power Intelligent Switchgear project will develop breakthrough technology to solve the challenges of ensuring the electricity grid is stable as more renewable energy is integrated. Key outcomes of the project include:
- Reduction in the cost of connection and increasing the value delivered by renewable energy in Australia
- Developing new protection, control and monitoring firmware to address renewable energy challenges
- Reducing or removing barriers to renewable energy uptake
- Increasing Australian skills in renewable energy
- Improving power system security, reliability and stability in Australia
Once developed, 100 units will be installed on electricity networks across Queensland and Victoria where renewable energy connects to the grid and in locations of high renewable penetration.
The data captured by these devices will be shared with ARENA, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Deakin University and the University of Queensland as well as AusNet and Energy Queensland to help provide more accurate real-time information on the electricity system and renewable energy, in a unique collaboration.
Project innovation
The NOJA Power Intelligent Switchgear project will develop a range of switchgear products combined with unique controllers specifically targeting the requirements of Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSP) and reducing the connection cost of renewable energy resources. These products will manage the protection challenges associated with renewable resources integration increasing the hosting capacity of the electricity network by using dynamic protection configuration, precise wide-area measurements and real-time monitoring capabilities. This will be achieved with advanced protection schemes and with synchrophasors.
Benefit
These products will manage the protection challenges associated with renewable resources integration increasing the hosting capacity of the electricity network by using dynamic protection configuration, precise wide-area measurements and real-time monitoring capabilities. This will be achieved with advanced protection schemes and with synchrophasors. This project will contribute to the Advancing Renewables Program outcomes by reducing the integration cost, increasing the value delivered by renewable energy, removing barriers to renewable energy uptake and increasing skill and knowledge relevant to renewable energy integration in Australia.
Read more
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