Entura visits Antarctica’s Scott Base research facility for redevelopment works
Entura recently visited New Zealand’s remote Scott Base research facility in Antarctica as part of site investigations for the hub’s redevelopment.
Antarctica New Zealand’s Scott Base Redevelopment project will see a complete overhaul of the existing base, replacing the current ageing infrastructure with a safer, more modern research facility to support New Zealand’s Antarctic science programme and presence in the region for the next 50 years. Entura has been involved in the project since 2020, initially conducting feasibility and option studies to replace the Ross Island Wind Energy system which powers Scott Base. A need to upgrade the current SCADA and hybrid control system were identified, with the goal to increase renewable energy generation for the new base.
As part of ongoing work, Entura’s Specialist Hybrid Systems Engineer, Greg Koppens, and Specialist Renewable Energy Engineer, Andrew Wright, travelled to the base in October to conduct site investigations and better understand the current infrastructure.
“Visiting the base was a rare honour and opportunity, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before,” said Andrew. “It really put into perspective how important the work we’re doing here is.”
“We have extensive experience in delivering hybrid systems in remote areas, but this particular project is highly specialised, as the work we do in Antarctica will be particularly challenging given the difficult access, harsh weather conditions, and short construction window each summer season.”
Entura will continue its involvement in the replacement of the Ross Island Wind Energy system over the next five years, supporting the design and procurement of the new equipment and control systems. The existing flywheel storage will be replaced by a battery energy storage system, and the current turbines will also be replaced.
“It’s quite a complicated job, but our site visit and discussions with the client have allowed us to determine the optimal design and implementation schedule moving forward,” said Greg.
“It’s exciting for Entura to be part of the enduring legacy of Scott Base, and to ensure the research facility will be able to continue its important work well into the future.”
Entura is a leading consultant in renewables development and integration in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in hybrid renewable systems. Our services have been instrumental to the success of other hybrid renewable projects, including the Agnew Hybrid Renewable Project and Flinders Island Energy Hub in Australia, and the delivery of hybrid renewable systems in Yap, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands and more.
Entura’s specialists share industry insights at 2022 ANCOLD NZSOLD Conference
Entura specialists have shared their insights at this year’s ANCOLD / NZSOLD conference, a meeting of the Australian and New Zealand National Committees on Large Dams in Sydney last week.
It was the first time the three-day event had been held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with this year’s focus on ‘Sustainable Dams in a Climate of Change’.
A cohort of Entura’s civil and mechanical engineers attended the conference to share knowledge and engage with industry peers from across Australia and New Zealand, with five of our people giving presentations of their own.
This included Daniel Jirik’s presentation on innovative solutions allowing the use of challenging earthfill materials, informed by his work on TasWater’s Henderson Dam upgrade, and Beth Scott and Rebecca Dew’s joint paper on feasibility studies for Tasmania’s Cethana Pumped Hydro Scheme.
Principal Consultant Richard Herweynen delivered a presentation on Samoa’s multi-purpose Alaoa Dam, while Sasha Longo spoke about the novel use of plastic concrete for cofferdam construction.
“The annual ANCOLD conference is a great opportunity for us to spread the word about the exciting work we do at Entura and connect with like-minded industry professionals,” said Beth.
“We’re thrilled to have had a presence at this year’s event, as speakers, sponsors and an ANCOLD Sustaining Member.”
“Large Dams are what we do. We value the leadership of ANCOLD in encouraging and extending good practice in all aspects of dam engineering and management, to deliver safe, sustainable and resilient water infrastructure that can support the clean energy transition and provide greater security to communities in a changing climate,” said Dale Bryce, Entura’s Director Hydropower & Headworks.
Entura is actively supporting the energy transition through our work on many renewable energy and storage projects, including a number of hydropower initiatives. These include Hydro Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation, Genex Power’s Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project and a new off-creek storage dam in Walcha, New South Wales.
A number of our Directors and Technical specialists recently engaged in a panel discussion to celebrate Global Hydropower Day. During the webinar, they explored the opportunities and challenges confronting the energy sector and the role of hydropower in resolving the energy crisis. You can watch it here.
Entura specialists celebrate inaugural Global Hydropower Day with first webinar
A panel of Entura specialists came together this week to celebrate Global Hydropower Day, marking the occasion with Entura’s international webinar.
Five members of our Executive and Technical Leadership Teams formed the panel, comprising Dale Bryce, Director, Hydropower and Headworks, Dr Amanda Ashworth, Director Strategy, Sales and Commercial, Donald Vaughan, Principal Consultant – Electrical Primary Systems, Richard Herweynen, Principal Consultant – Civil, and Rajeev Raina, Resident Director India.
During the session, they explored the opportunities and challenges confronting the energy sector and the role of hydropower in resolving the energy crisis.
Mr Roger Gill, president of the International Hydropower Association, gave the opening remarks, noting that it was the first Global Hydropower Day webinar event in the world.
Roger noted the enormous opportunity for hydropower to underpin a faster transition to wind and solar, to fill the gap in generation as coal power retires from the market, and to bring a level of energy security in the current world energy crisis sparked by international conflicts.
“Hydropower plays an essential role in the global path to net zero and is key to the growth of other renewables,” he said.
“Hydropower is a clean, green, modern and affordable solution to climate change, and it will ensure the energy transition occurs effectively. With hydropower we can change the world.”
Entura is currently involved in a range of hydropower and pumped hydro projects throughout Australia and the Indo-Pacific region. These include the Kidston Pumped Hydro Storage Project in Queensland, the Battery of the Nation initiative in Tasmania and the Baleh hydroelectric project in Indonesia.
“The International Energy Agency and other institutions are telling us that we need to double our global hydropower capacity in the next 30 years,” said Mr Bryce.
“We know that hydropower developments take time, so in order to keep up with these changes we need to be investing now and moving quickly. We cannot afford to continue business as usual.”
“There’s a massive transition still ahead of us globally to lift electrification, alleviate poverty, encourage jobs and education, support economies, and secure water supplies – and hydropower projects have a very significant role to play in achieving these goals,” added Dr Ashworth.
“With robust sustainability frameworks and tools we have the opportunity to do good projects and to heed past lessons. Fast-tracking can’t come at the expense of sustainability, particularly local environmental and social impacts. Getting these factors right are a crucial part of the hydropower journey.”
With complexity to create robust energy security there are no simple answers. Global Hydropower Day gives us an opportunity to continue the conversations on a global platform to find solutions together.
Watch the full webinar here.
Entura’s device gives Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service a bird’s-eye view
Entura has designed and constructed a remote monitoring device that will be used by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) to support its land management operations.
The unique portable device is the first of its kind to be used in Tasmania. It has an instantly deployable configuration rarely seen in other monitoring devices and comprises instrumentation, high-resolution camera, weather station, satellite, bespoke helicopter auto-lock mechanism and off-grid solar system.
“A portable monitoring system used by Hydro Tasmania caught the eye of PWS, who engaged us to design a similar product to support its field operations,” said Aaron Kelly, one of Entura’s expert Instrumentation and Communications engineers, who led the design.
“We worked with the PWS to create something that met its specific needs, incorporating a camera to capture high-resolution images, a communication system to send these back to a dashboard and a portable robust structure.”
“Working with PWS, we identified an auto-lock mechanism that allowed the device to be picked up and placed entirely by helicopter, with no ground crews or assembly required. We also employed a satellite terminal that’s often used on trains and buses for Wi-Fi, which can be powered by a small off-grid solar power system but still send high-resolution images.”
The first installation of the system – dubbed ‘Big Bird One’ by PWS – was successfully deployed last month in Tasmania’s Southwest National Park. The camera-fitted telemetry equipment was able to capture images from the site and deliver these back to PWS via satellite communications.
Information captured by the monitoring equipment is fed into Entura’s Ajenti Data Management System (ADMS) and used by PWS personnel to assess conditions prior to deploying helicopters for track works and other operations.
“PWS is currently doing track works in the Southwest National Park, and the camera allows staff to check conditions in the area and decide whether or not works can safely go ahead that day,” said Aaron. “It saves them time and resources, as well as helping to manage the risks associated with accessing these remote and often rugged areas.”
“Being able to move the equipment via helicopter also has benefits in terms of landscape preservation and a smaller site footprint than conventional devices.”
In addition to track works and general monitoring operations, the device also has scope to be used for early bushfire detection.
“Our team provides a lot of these monitoring solutions for permanent sites, but this portable model opens up a whole new world for us and our clients,” said Aaron.
“Collaborating with PWS on this specific device was a great experience and it’s exciting to have been involved in such an innovative, important design. We’re looking forward to seeing how the telemetered camera can be used in future and the benefits it will bring.”
Entura contributes insights to Asian Development Bank report on hybrid renewables and battery energy storage in the Pacific
Entura has contributed to an Asian Development Bank report exploring challenges and recommending actions to bolster the success of hybrid renewable energy and battery storage projects in the Pacific.
The report, Hybrid and Battery Energy Storage Systems: Review and Recommendations for Pacific Island Projects, draws on 26 case studies from 9 subprojects in the Cook Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. It highlights lessons learnt from these projects, which inform recommendations for future implementation of hybrid renewable and BESS developments in the region.
Entura’s Specialist Renewable Energy Engineer Chris Blanksby co-authored the report, having worked on many Pacific ventures funded by the Asian Development Bank, including the Tonga Renewable Energy Project (TREP) and Cook Islands Renewable Energy Sector Project (CIRESP).
“The purpose of this report is to take the learnings from these projects and consider how we can improve future renewable energy developments in the Pacific,” said Chris.
“Both Tonga and the Cook Islands have set ambitious targets for renewable energy uptake. Increasing renewable penetration in these nations will help to overcome their unique challenges, such as building climate resilience, extending electrification, reducing reliance on diesel, securing energy supply, and driving down power costs,” he said.
The report proposes three key areas of focus for future projects, including improving project design, understanding current technologies and technical gaps, identifying and implementing optimal and procurement processes.
“We have built strong relationships with the ADB and our clients in the Pacific over many years, and we are proud to contribute to increasing sustainability in the region,” said Entura’s Managing Director, Tammy Chu.
“This report is a testament to Chris’s extensive knowledge of hybrid renewables and battery energy storage, and it’s great to see this expertise being harnessed to plan and deliver successful Pacific projects in the future.”
“We hope that our exploration of project challenges and the resulting practical recommendations will support policy-makers, power utilities and the private sector as they initiate and implement similar renewable energy and storage developments across the Pacific region,” said Chris.
Entura is a leading consultant in renewables development in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in battery energy storage and hybrid renewable systems. Our services have been instrumental to the success of other hybrid renewable energy systems and BESS projects throughout Australia and in the Pacific region, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu.
Can hydropower resolve the energy crisis? Join our webinar on Global Hydropower Day
Entura celebrated Global Hydropower Day with a webinar including some of our sharpest minds.
Hydropower has been around for centuries, but seems new again on Global Hydropower Day. Where are we now, and where might we be going? Can hydropower make the difference in resolving the energy crisis and smoothing the energy transition?
Opening this webinar was our special guest, Roger Gill, President of the International Hydropower Association.
Our facilitator was Dale Bryce, Director Hydropower and Headworks, and our panellists were:
- Dr Amanda Ashworth, Director Strategy, Sales and Commercial
- Richard Herweynen, Principal Consultant – Civil
- Donald Vaughan, Principal Consultant – Electrical Primary Systems
- Rajeev Raina, Resident Director India.
Entura celebrates initial outcomes of workforce credentialing partnership with Engineers Australia
Entura is celebrating the initial outcomes of our 3.5-year workforce credentialing partnership with Engineers Australia.
Announced in March, the business-to-business pathway offers Entura’s engineers a streamlined way to achieve chartered status, with targeted support and resources.
Our first engineers to achieve chartered status through the pathway are Hydrologist Ash Rasheed, Senior Civil Engineer Beth Scott and Electrical Engineer Daniel Minnucci. They were recognised recently at the Tasmanian division of the Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards, where Beth was also a finalist in the Young Professional Engineer of the Year category. A further 4 Entura engineers have achieved their CPEng since.
“It feels great to be recognised by the engineering community with the support of Entura and Engineers Australia,” said Beth.
Chartered engineer (CPEng) is one of the most important technical credentials for an engineering professional, and is nationally and internationally recognised. It is a measure of excellence, and signifies that the recipient holds a certain level of skill, talent and experience.
“We are proud to help further the professional development of our exceptional engineers,” said Entura’s Managing Director, Tammy Chu. “Attaining chartered status offers important recognition of the quality of our people, both nationally and internationally, and gives confidence to our clients.”
“It’s a pleasing initial result from this partnership, and we look forward to seeing more of Entura’s engineers achieve this credential over the next three years.”
Entura at the forefront of renewables transition for mining sector
Earlier this month, two of Entura’s specialists attended the Energy and Mines Australia Summit in Perth.
Hybrid Energy Solutions Specialist Ray Massie led a broad-ranging panel discussion, ‘Key Considerations for Mining Hybrids’, which explored decarbonisation opportunities, implications and strategies for the sector. The panel included Entura’s Specialist Control Engineer Greg Koppens along with Darren Stralow of Bellevue Gold, Luke Sandery of OZ Minerals and Sue D’Arcy of ANZ.
Ray and Greg were encouraged by the mining sector’s strong interest in greater deployment and integration of renewable energy.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen the sector develop a greater level of confidence about renewable energy,” said Ray. “It seems as if every mine in Australia is now putting in renewables at some scale.”
“There is no longer any question in the mining industry of whether hybrid renewable systems will work. The discussion is now focused on how to get projects going, the choice of delivery mechanism, and optimising the system to maximise benefits and match the mine life.”
Ray and Greg noted strong international interest in Australia’s progress in integrating renewables in the mining sector.
“Australia is generally considered to be leading the world in innovation and solutions for renewable energy in mining, and there are many lessons that international players can take home,” said Ray.
Entura is currently working with a number of mining clients in Western Australia to increase their uptake of renewable energy.
“Entura’s long-term real-world experience as an owner-operator of hybrid off-grid renewable energy systems, which began with our work on the world-leading King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project, is still a real distinguisher for us,” said Ray.
“We have a great depth of experience, and we can bring together all the pieces of the puzzle for our clients – including the power system modelling, hybrid control, original equipment manufacturers, and more. We’ve demonstrated that we can apply our experience to achieve very successful outcomes even on the largest projects, such as the high renewable-penetration system powering the Agnew Gold Mine.”
Another trend that Entura’s delegates noted from the Summit was a more holistic appreciation of the role of the mining sector within the energy transition and a deepening commitment to social licence.
“Attitudes about the role of renewables have matured,” said Greg. “Fuel costs are still a powerful driver, as is the need to remain competitive in a market that increasingly values carbon-free products, but there also seems to be a genuine shift in the mining industry towards embracing lower carbon opportunities simply because it is the right thing to do.”
“At the Summit, it was uplifting to hear thoughtful and passionate conversations about social licence, including protecting cultural heritage, preventing contamination of land and water, and creating local job opportunities,” said Greg.
After being held virtually over the last two years, the in-person event was an important opportunity to connect with other industry peers and learn from each other.
Ray recognised a strong appetite in the industry for greater collaboration.
“There is an enormous opportunity ahead for the mining sector, but there are also still many unknowns and challenges to resolve,” said Ray.
“Players in the industry recognise that collaboration will be needed to solve problems and share answers, which will benefit everyone more than competition and working in isolation.”
Our presence at the conference enabled us to demonstrate why Entura is a leader in advanced off-grid hybrid integration systems, and to lend our expertise to support the industry’s uptake of renewables.
“We are at the start of a very exciting time and an incredibly fast transition,” said Greg. “One of the challenges for the industry will be finding enough skilled people to meet the demand. We’re looking forward to continuing to apply our capacity to accelerate Australia’s clean energy future.”
Entura’s clean energy and water institute (ECEWI) collaborates with Tenaga Nasional University to deliver hydropower training in Pakistan
Entura’s clean energy and water institute (ECEWI) is collaborating with Malaysia’s Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) to deliver international hydropower training in Pakistan for the Energy Development, Services Management and Technology (EDSMAT) Program of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
The collaboration comes as the third phase of EDSMAT led by AIT’s Yunus Center. The World Bank-supported program is a transnational capacity building venture for Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
As part of the program, ECEWI and UNITEN’s Department of Civil Engineering and Institute of Energy Infrastructure will provide training on 5 key areas of hydropower, including project and contract management, engineering design, operation, maintenance and protection of dam structures, construction management and quality control, dam safety and disaster prevention, environmental and social safeguards and health and safety standards for hydropower projects.
The training will be delivered at the WAPDA Staff College in Islamabad, Pakistan, with UNITEN providing on-the-ground training along with AIT trainers, and ECEWI delivering virtual sessions on key topics.
“We’re pleased to be supporting AIT and WAPDA again through this important training program. Our decade-long collaboration with both AIT and UNITEN has now combined to share our joint knowledge and expertise to WAPDA,” said ECEWI’s Director, Amanda Ashworth.
“It is far reaching and will aim to transfer knowledge and reinforce even more capability and capacity to deliver on Pakistan’s sustainable hydropower goals.”
“We know that our people assets are fundamental to a successful asset management strategy and culture, and it’s their skills and capabilities that are critical to successfully delivering on organisational goals. This is why we at Entura strongly believe in the importance of knowledge sharing and upskilling across international borders.”
“Since virtual learning was forced on us by COVID restrictions, we have made great progress on incorporating a range of flexibility into the way we deliver training. Our virtual/remote learning is very different from what many people think of when they envisage ‘online learning’. We aim to deliver an excellent student experience by using new platforms and tools to maximise human interaction and engagement beyond the classroom,” said Amanda.
“We are pleased to be sharing our knowledge in support of this training program to boost Pakistan’s energy sector capacity and the sustainable development of available hydropower resources to meet the demand for clean, reliable and affordable energy,” said Datin Professor Ir Dr Lariyah Mohd Sidek of UNITEN.
“AIT is excited to see our decade-long collaboration with Entura extend to UNITEN, bringing the best of learning resources in hydropower to WAPDA training facilities in Pakistan. WAPDA’s investment in EDSMAT, with World Bank support since 2012, has benefitted 500 executives and staff from WAPDA and its allied agencies. The present phase will reach a further 480 WAPDA engineers from across the country. As a regional knowledge hub, AIT is happy to help address Pakistan’s water and energy priorities. Together with ECEWI and UNITEN, AIT can accomplish our work with much greater confidence,” said Faiz Shah, EDSMAT Director at AIT.
About ECEWI
Entura’s clean energy and water institute (ECEWI) was established in 2012 and has delivered more than 200 courses to 2,550 people in 24 countries over that time. ECEWI’s capability programs are designed and customised to suit the needs of our clients, and cover the full scope of Entura’s expertise, across hydropower, dam design, safety, water management, environmental management, hydrology and more.
Entura to support Timor-Leste lower electricity costs with hybrid solar solution
Entura has been appointed to support Timor-Leste’s local electricity utility (ETDL, E.P.) reduce the country’s reliance on diesel fuel by adding solar into the energy mix. The transition to low-cost solar is expected to drive down electricity prices and improve environmental outcomes.
Our Specialist Renewable Energy Engineer Chris Blanksby and Specialist Electrical Engineer Ranjith Perera recently travelled to the country to carry out site investigations, marking Entura’s return to international, onsite work.
While there, they visited three potential sites for the nation’s first solar development, as well as three substations, the national dispatch centre, and the main power station.
“We were trying to gather as much information as we could about the site options and the network,” explained Chris.
“The first objective was to narrow down the options and identify the optimal site for the solar farm,” he said. “We’re at rapidly progressing and have issued our preliminary site selection report.”
A number of factors were considered in the site selection, including the solar resource and grid connection opportunities at each site, the challenging local topography and geology, the potential impacts of extreme weather or earthquakes, and accessibility for construction.
The next step is a full feasibility study, which will also consider grid stability and energy storage options. Entura will then support the tendering process by providing technical specifications for procurement.
The hybrid solar development, supported by the Asian Development Bank, is set to be operational by 2025.
“It was great to get back onsite and be able to work face-to-face with our international clients,” said Chris. “We look forward to continuing our work with EDTL, E.P. and supporting Timor-Leste to achieve cleaner, more cost-effective renewable energy generation.”
Entura is a leading consultant in renewables development in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in hybrid renewable systems. Our services have been instrumental to the success of other hybrid renewable energy systems in Yap, the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Flinders Island and Western Australia.
Construction of Kidston Pumped Storage Project well underway in North Queensland
Construction of Genex Power’s Kidston Pumped Storage project in North Queensland is well underway.
The project achieved financial close in June 2021, and Entura was appointed as Owner’s Engineer. As part of the project’s construction phase, our Principal Consultant Richard Herweynen and Specialist Hydropower Engineer Nick West recently visited the site to oversee progress.
Above: aerial views of the Eldridge Pit at Kidston, construction offices and the portal for the main access tunnel
“The project utilises two old mine pits, Wises and Eldridge, as the upper and lower reservoirs,” Richard explained. “Major earthworks are taking place around the perimeter of the old Wises pit, using the waste rock dump piles on site from past mining operations.”
“The waterproof membrane for the Wises dam is set to be installed next month, and excavation is occurring in the inlet area, where the intake structure will be constructed for the power station.”
Above: section of the Wises dam, the upper storage, trialling the construction methodology components
It’s the first pumped hydro storage project to be constructed in Australia in almost 40 years, and Entura is thrilled to have been involved from the project’s inception.
“It was great to finally get to site and to see construction occurring on a number of fronts,” said Richard. “It is always great seeing projects you are involved with become a reality, and it is particularly so for the Kidston Pumped Storage Project, given the journey we have been on with Genex.”
Above: Nick West on site at Kidston
Our initial meetings with Genex Power were in 2015, when we were engaged to undertake the bankable feasibility study for the Kidston Pumped Storage project. Entura completed the feasibility study over the next 18 months, which included travelling to China with Genex Power to inspect a number of other operational hydro pumped storage projects.
Our involvement has continued from there, throughout the early contractor involvement phase, funding phase, independent due diligence assessments and financial close, and now into the construction phase as Owner’s Engineer. Our strong relationship with Genex Power has also seen us assist as a trusted advisor on other projects, including grid connection studies and support for its solar projects, and wind monitoring for a potential opportunity in the Kidston area.
“We’re proud to be part of this new pumped storage development, and we’re aware of how important storage is in Australia’s transition to renewable energy,” said Richard.
Entura is actively supporting the energy transition through our work on many renewable energy and storage projects, including other pumped hydro and dispatchable renewables initiatives such as Hydro Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation.
Entura experts share insights on increasing renewable energy penetration in mining sector
Entura’s Hybrid Energy Solutions Specialist Ray Massie has shared his insights into the use of renewable energy in the mining sector in the latest issue of the Energy and Mines Magazine (issue 42, June 2022).
The article, titled ‘The Challenges of 100% RE penetration’, explores the shift towards larger and more complex hybrid power systems in mining, and the key technical considerations for moving a mining power system towards a higher percentage of renewable energy. In the piece, Ray predicts that we’ll see 60-80% renewable energy penetration used in mines in the next five years, and outlines the challenges to achieving 100% RE penetration.
Read the article here.
Entura shares insights from 2022 Planning Institute of Australia Congress
Sponsoring the Planning Institute of Australia Congress in Hobart, Tasmania in May gave Entura the opportunity to participate in conversations around climate change and the need for resilient, sustainable outcomes.
It was the first time the national congress had been conducted in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 500 planners from across Australia and beyond – from New Zealand to Barcelona – attended three days of presentations, workshops, study tours and networking events.
Three of Entura’s own attended the congress as part of our sponsorship; environmental planner Bunfu Yu, senior planning and environment consultant Scott Rowell, and Water Management Team Leader Scott Lobdale, who is also a registered planner.
L-R: Bunfu Yu, Scott Lobdale and Scott Rowell at the 2022 PIA Congress
“It was great to be able to have wide-ranging discussions and share insights with planners across the many aspects of the industry,” said Scott Lobdale.
“A particular area of interest for us, given the nature of our work on power and water assets, was the focus on the criticality of planning for climate change, for sustainable infrastructure and, crucially, for resilient communities.”
Bunfu served on the Congress study tour committee, and coordinated a visit to Meadowbank Dam, a Hydro Tasmania’s asset on which Entura has delivered dam safety services for many years.
“The tour to Meadowbank was valuable for helping planners consider infrastructure opportunities and constraints in their approach to development, and for gaining a wider perspective on the fundamental importance of water resources and renewable energy as enablers for industries and communities to grow and thrive,” said Bunfu.
The 2022 event explored many aspects of planning, including public health, housing, equity, and climate.
“Key themes that emerged from the congress included the need for communities to always be at the heart of what we do as planners,” said Bunfu. “It’s important that we recognise the difference between planning for communities and planning with communities as we approach new projects.”
“It was also encouraging to see a strong appreciation of the need to prioritise First Nations perspectives and issues in everything we do, and to consider how we can demonstrate respect and incorporate a deeper level of First Nations history and culture into projects.”
“Planners need to go beyond ensuring that projects comply with laws, regulations and codes; we should always be looking to align our projects with best practice and promote genuine, enduring social licence to operate.”
Entura also sponsored two students from the University of Tasmania to attend the congress.
“We recognise the importance of supporting students at the beginning of their professional planning careers, and this was a powerful opportunity to help them gain a multidimensional view of planning and engage with the pressing challenges facing the broader development sector,” said Scott Lobdale.
“For young planners entering the profession, climate change will permeate every aspect of their work, not only as an ‘issue’, but also as an ‘opportunity’ to make meaningful, positive impacts for a more sustainable future.”
Entura welcomes commissioning of Jabiru Power Station
Specialist power and water consulting firm Entura welcomes the recent commissioning of the Jabiru Power Station, located in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park.
The project, funded by the Northern Territory Government and developed, owned and operated by EDL, will supply the town of Jabiru with reliable energy drawn from at least 50% renewable sources. It comprises a 3.9 MW solar farm, 4.5 MW diesel generation and a 3 MW/5 MWh battery, with the ability to power 2,000 homes annually and cut 6,000 tonnes CO2e emissions per year.
The Jabiru Power Station includes ‘Zero Thermal’ functionality, meaning the diesel generators can be turned off entirely during times of adequate sunlight.
Entura’s development on the project began in June 2021. Construction then started in August and was completed less than six months later.
Entura proudly supported our client EDL in coordinating commissioning of the power station, drawing on our experience in hybrid off-grid power systems.
Jabiru Power Station
“Testing was rigorously conducted to prove all of the power station functions. This is an investment towards a future of highly reliable operation,” said Greg Koppens, Entura’s Specialist Engineer for Hybrid Renewable Systems.
“A feature of the Jabiru power station is the ability to ‘black start’ without any fossil fuel generation available,” he added. “Starting a town is very challenging for any power system because there is a large inrush of energy immediately after reconnection of power.”
“In Jabiru, it’s now possible to restart following a blackout using only the battery system and solar power. This could prove useful in the future if an emergency situation prevents transport of diesel fuel, that the town could be energised and powered off solar power.”
EDL Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project Manager Aidan Davies said Entura’s expertise was instrumental in enabling the hybrid power station to deliver reliable, renewable energy for Jabiru.
“EDL is pleased to have worked with Entura on this landmark project, which contributes to the Territory’s target of 50% renewable energy by 2030.”
Entura is one of the leading consultants in renewables development and integration in Australia, and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in grid connection, hybrid renewable energy systems, utility-scale battery energy storage, solar and wind farms, hydropower and pumped hydro.
Entura’s services have been instrumental to the success of other hybrid renewable projects, including the Agnew Hybrid Renewable Project and the Flinders Island Hybrid Energy Hub in Australia, and the delivery of hybrid renewable energy systems in Yap, the Cook Islands and Marshall Islands.
Entura joins workforce credentialing partnership with Engineers Australia
Entura is pleased to announce that the business has entered a three-year partnership with Engineers Australia.
This partnership will offer a business-to-business pathway for Entura’s engineers to achieve chartered status via the Engineering Workforce Credentialing (EWC) Program.
“Chartered status is a demonstration of an engineer’s professionalism and capability. I applaud Entura’s commitment to assessing their engineering workforce against globally recognised engineering standards,”said Dr Bronwyn Evans AM, CEO, Engineers Australia.
Entura strongly encourages ongoing career development for its workforce.
“At Entura, we highly value the professionalism and exceptional competencies of our engineers,” said Tammy Chu, Managing Director, Entura.
“Attaining chartered status offers important recognition of the quality of our people, both nationally and internationally, and gives confidence to our clients.”
“In a further testament to the depth of Entura’s engineering talent, a number of Entura engineers have received recognition through the Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards,” said Tammy Chu.
Recent Entura recipients of Engineering Australia awards include Richard Herweynen (Professional Engineer of the Year, Tas, 2012), Donald Vaughan (Professional Engineer of the Year, Tas, 2018), Seth Langford (Professional Engineer of the Year, Tas, 2020) and Paul Southcott, Professional Engineer of the Year, Tas, 2021).
Furthermore, Entura’s Beth Scott will serve on Engineers Australia’s National Committee for Women in Engineering in 2022.
Entura rediscovers snail species thought likely to be extinct at Tasmania’s Great Lake
Entura’s environment team have rediscovered a species of freshwater snail thought likely to be extinct during a survey at Tasmania’s yingina/Great Lake.
The Beddomeia tumida, a tiny snail measuring around 4mm, was found as part of ongoing conservation monitoring of the lake, funded by Hydro Tasmania. Located in the Central Plateau, it is the first time the live snail has been seen or recorded in the areas since the 1900s.
The team were initially searching for another previously thought to be extinct snail species, the Great Lake giant freshwater limpet (Ancylastrum cumingianus), which they had rediscovered during an aquatic invertebrate survey when the lake was at a historic low.
Returning to the now refilled lake in late 2021, the team attached old roof tiles sourced from a tip to ropes and buoys. The tiles were dropped at various depths (2-10 metres) to the lake floor in the hope they would become inhabited by bottom-dwelling species, such as the limpet.
Ancylastrum cumingianus (Great Lake giant freshwater limpet)
In January this year, when the team retrieved the tiles, they found not only the presence of limpets in low abundance, but also three specimens of Beddomeia tumida (Great Lake freshwater snail). Subsequent surveys have recorded further specimens of both snails on other tiles, so far in low numbers, all located in the north basin near Reynolds Island.
The species were identified with the help of Dr Karen Richards, senior zoologist and aquatic mollusc expert at the Threatened Species Section, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Beddomeia tumida is listed as endangered on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA), and critically endangered but possibly extinct on the IUCN red list.
“It’s a significant find because we now know it still exists,” said Entura’s Water Quality Consultant Kevin Macfarlane, who led the survey. “It could have been re-listed within days or months as extinct if we hadn’t found it. Once we get an idea of the population size it could potentially be listed as not critically endangered, and hopefully we find that it’s abundant.”
“As Beddomeia species are not present at locations of reduced water quality, this tells us that the water quality is very good, and the habitat is very good,” he added. “It’s not common for people in the sciences to discover new or extinct species, so it’s a great position to be in.”
Beddomeia tumida (Great Lake freshwater snail)
The Hydro Tasmania-funded surveys have been ongoing since the 2000s, during which six undescribed species of freshwater snail have been identified. These were found during the surveys conducted in 2015 and 2016, when the lake was at its second lowest recorded level.
“2015-16 was followed by a boom in populations, such as the native lake fish, once the water levels rose again,” said Kevin. “We’re trying to understand the health of the lake, and it appears to have resilient inhabitants.”
“We’ve discovered not only undescribed snails in Great Lake, but numerous phreatoicids, which are small crustaceans, and an aquatic plant called a charophyte. We’ve also uncovered previously unknown sponges in some of the other Central Highlands Lakes and found animals in other lakes where they weren’t known to exist.”
Great Lake was the first source of water for Hydro Tasmania. It initially fed Waddamana Power Station, which was run by the Tasmanian Government-owned Hydroelectric Department from 1916 until 1964, and replaced by Poatina Power Station in 1966.
Speaking of the importance of ongoing surveys, Kevin said: “When the lake was flooded in 1901, there was no baseline survey undertaken of what might be affected as we do these days, so the efforts today are focused on clawing back as much of that missing knowledge as we can. The more knowledge we gain on the flora and fauna of the lake, the greater chance we have to protect them.”
The find is just the latest for Entura’s environment team, who recently spotted a native herb which resembles clover called Glycine latrobeana at Lagoon of Islands, also on the Central Plateau. The clover had not been seen in the area for over 20 years, and is listed as vulnerable on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
“It’s really hard to find because it’s so small and very palatable,” said Environment Team Leader, Raymond Brereton. “It gets browsed a lot by wallabies and wombats which means you hardly get to see it in flower, so this was an exciting find.”
“Our team often find that if you really put in the effort to look for these species of threatened flora and fauna, you’ll find them, and fortunately, that’s often how it turns out for us.”
Entura updates business continuity plan and implements vaccination policy
Entura has a rigorous, structured business continuity plan that underpins our efforts to protect health and safety, maintain good governance, and minimise impacts on our clients’ projects during the uncertainties and changing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We continually review and revise our business continuity plan as the pandemic evolves. You can access our updated Business Continuity Plan summary here.
Over the last two years of the pandemic, we have worked with our clients to explore the best ways forward for their projects. We continue to do so, working together to identify opportunities, where appropriate, to re-scope, redirect effort, or revise timelines.
Due to travel restrictions and the need for physical distancing, we are postponing non-essential field work at this time.
To progress other required field activities, we are closely engaging with our partners on shared field work protocols and adopting methods to enable physical distancing, such as separate road travel. We are sharing COVID-19 mitigation strategies and amending safe work method statements (SWMS) for field work.
Consistent with our safety-first approach, in 2022 we have also introduced a vaccination policy for all Entura staff and contractors.
Our people across Australia and in India continue to adapt as this pandemic evolves, to stay safe, connected, productive and responsive to our clients.
Please contact us if you need to find out more about our response.
Entura’s Beth Scott to represent Tasmanian women in engineering on national committee
Entura’s Beth Scott, a civil engineer based in Hobart, has been co-opted to Engineers Australia’s National Committee for Women in Engineering (NCWiE) for 2022.
Through her inclusion on the national committee, Beth will represent and advocate for Tasmania’s aspiring, emerging and established female engineers.
“I am very excited to be part of the committee,” said Beth, “and am eager to make an impact at a local level, increasing the engagement and participation of Tasmanian women in engineering and helping build a more diverse and inclusive profession.”
“I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the EA Tasmania Division – Gender Equality in Engineering Project (October 2018 – October 2019), where I completed a program designed to support women in engineering as we build our careers,” she said.
“This was an incredible opportunity for me, and I am excited for the opportunity to give back to the Engineers Australia community, both by sharing the knowledge and experience gained during the course of the program, and providing my support to the women in engineering community.”
“Since graduating as a civil engineer, I’ve been passionate about encouraging and supporting other women to build strong, confident careers in this fascinating and wide-ranging profession,” said Beth.
“Women are still vastly underrepresented in the engineering workforce, and I am looking forward to being part of the changing gender dynamic of our industry,” she said.
“The future for women in engineering is very bright, both here in Tasmania with significant new infrastructure planned for the state, and across the country and the world as we accelerate the clean energy transition and progress towards greater sustainability,” said Beth.
Another strong advocate for women in engineering is Entura’s Managing Director, Tammy Chu, who was the first female president of the Tasmanian division of Engineers Australia.
“Attracting, retaining and supporting women in engineering must be a priority,” said Tammy.
“The challenges of the future will require a great number of new engineers, with maximum creativity and innovation, different ways of thinking and diverse approaches to tasks,” she said.
“If half the population are not seeing engineering as a viable or interesting career option for them, or are not adequately supported in the profession, the pool of talent and human capital is massively restricted. That’s a lost opportunity that the engineering sector simply can’t afford.”
Engineers Australia’s National Committee for Women in Engineering aims to attract, retain, support and celebrate women in engineering through the development and implementation of strategies for increasing representation and retention of female members and through continued professional development and outreach activities.
Entura is part of Hydro Tasmania, which has a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity across the business. The company supports Engineers Australia’s ‘Driving Diversity’ scholarship program, sponsoring two scholarships of $5000 each for young women entering their first year of an engineering qualification. Hydro Tasmania employees have also participated both as mentors and mentees in Engineers Australia’s ‘Gender Equality in Engineering’ project.
Hydro Tasmania has also been involved in other programs encouraging more women and girls to pursue careers in STEM, teaming up with not-for-profit organisation Power of Engineering for a series of events for Year 9 students.
Entura welcomes announcement of Hazelwood Battery
Specialist power and water consulting firm Entura welcomes the announcement this week of the 150 MW Hazelwood Battery, now under construction on the site of the decommissioned Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.
The project, privately funded by ENGIE and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), will provide critical services to support the Victorian grid by increasing renewable energy capacity and grid stability in the state.
Entura was engaged in 2020 to facilitate the project’s grid connection agreement, which has now been approved by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
Entura provided power systems modelling expertise to develop the connection application and performance standards in line with the National Electricity Rules. Further work will include validation and registration of the modelling as the project progresses.
The Hazelwood Battery is expected to be operational in November 2022.
“Storage projects like the Hazelwood Battery are critical in ensuring that electricity networks are resilient, reliable and flexible as renewables capacity and use expand, and Entura’s capability in renewables and network integration was important in enabling this successful connection agreement,” said Lachlan Creswell, Head of GIG, Australia and New Zealand.
Commenting on the announcement of the commencement of construction of the Hazelwood project, Entura’s Managing Director, Tammy Chu, said, “This is a major milestone, and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to apply our grid connection expertise to overcome what has become a particularly challenging aspect of renewable energy projects in Australia in recent years.”
“As passionate advocates for dispatchable renewables, we are proud to have played an important role in supporting this battery storage project which will mitigate challenges in our transitioning energy system, and help to achieve a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future.”
The Hazelwood Battery will be built, operated and maintained by Fluence under a 20-year contract. The project will be the first in Australia to use Fluence’s Gridstack battery system, incorporating 342 modular factory-built Fluence Cubes, each of which contains battery modules as well as inverters, transformers, switchgear and other equipment.
Entura is one of the leading consultants in renewables development and integration in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in grid connection, hybrid renewable energy systems, utility-scale battery energy storage, solar and wind farms, hydropower and pumped hydro. The firm works with clients to help tackle the challenges of creating projects, from grid-connected and utility-scale to small, isolated systems. Entura’s services have been instrumental to the success of other battery projects such as the Lake Bonney Battery Energy Storage System in South Australia, many wind farms and solar farms across Australia, and a range of hybrid renewable projects throughout the Indo-Pacific region including the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project and the Agnew Hybrid Renewable Project.
Entura continues our commitment to integrity and sustainability
Entura has always been committed to providing quality power and water solutions to our clients and communities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
We have now summarised our ongoing, long-standing commitment to integrity in our Integrity Commitment Statement.
Our Integrity Framework is guided by our Code of Conduct, Sustainability Principles, Work Health and Safety Policy, Modern Slavery Statement, and Environmental Policy.
“As the global energy transition gains pace and urgency, it is essential that renewable energy developers, owners, operators and consultants maintain strong commitments to high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards,” said Tammy Chu, Entura’s Managing Director.
“Our Integrity Framework supports us to make sustainable and ethical decisions when considering what projects we will work on and with whom we partner.”
Integrity management is built into Entura’s day-to-day operations and project management system. Our integrity management system also forms part of our quality management system, which is independently certified to standard ISO 9001.
“Drawing on our strong integrity and sustainability commitments, and our extensive experience in the power and water sector, we stand ready to support our clients to assess and mitigate risks in their power and water projects,” said Tammy.
“While commercial and technical success is important, every power and water project should aim to be safe, sustainable, resilient, and empowering to its community and stakeholders.”
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