Central Powerhouse (CPH) Generator Replacement Project Design Stage

The CPH power station is part of the Remote Area Energy Supply (RAES) scheme, which serves five major communities through a 300km, 33kV distribution network.

The project addresses two primary operational challenges:

•  The existing (aged) four Caterpillar 3512B generators have a minimum load capacity of 40%, which limits the integration of renewable energy sources and increases fuel consumption.
•  The Main Switchboard's (MSB) fault current rating of 63kA at 1.0 second prevents the simultaneous operation of all generators (currently 23kA per unit), restricting the power supply to downstream communities like Amata during peak demand.

This scope involves the replacement of the MSB, Static Var Generator (SVG), Auxiliary Distribution board, Ancillary Distribution board, control & communication equipment to improve operational efficiency, increase renewable energy penetration, and meet future power demands.

The Design Phase addresses the engineering and planning requirements to replace the MSB, SVG, Auxiliary & Ancillary Distribution board, control & communication equipment ensuring compliance with Australian Standards and system operational objectives. This phase shall also complete the full detailed desktop study for 75% renewable penetration for future.