SCADA development consultancy – Solomon Islands

Client: Solomon Power
Location: Solomon Islands
Date: May 2017 – October 2019

Supporting affordable, reliable, sustainable electricity generation through strategic SCADA and control systems 

Background

To increase electricity access and affordability across Solomon Islands, Solomon Power is undertaking a major capital works program, building a world-class, future-proof electricity network to better serve customers. It is also introducing more renewable generation to reduce reliance on expensive diesel.

As part of this program, Solomon Power needed a SCADA strategy and implementation plan for a network-wide SCADA system covering its generation and network assets. Greater visibility of Solomon Power’s network assets would improve fault finding and outage restoration and optimise day-to-day operations.

Solution

A central control centre and SCADA system across all of Solomon Power’s sites was planned, including a generation management system to manage, dispatch and optimise the mix of existing and new generation.

Entura consulted with key stakeholders to identify and assess Solomon Power’s operational and business challenges and future needs. This informed a SCADA business strategy, functional requirements and standards, a staged implementation plan and associated budgets. Entura then developed concept designs, prepared tender packages including technical specifications, carried out tender reviews and valuations, and developed a training strategy for SCADA and control operators.

Entura carried out detailed site assessments on all substations and power stations in the Honiara area as well as some remote island generation and distribution sites, including solar PV control systems, substation protection and SCADA, and power station protection, SCADA and control systems.

Services provided

  • Concept designs and specifications
  • Project scoping and costing 
  • Tender evaluation

Outcome

Entura’s extensive asset-owner heritage provided the necessary technical knowledge and operational insights to optimise Solomon Power’s ability to deliver reliable, sustainable and affordable electricity and to support its ongoing network expansion and transformation. One of the many reasons for this project’s success was its integration into the overall business strategy.