Power system studies in Fiji
Client: Fiji Electricity Authority
Location: Suva, Fiji
Date: October 2005 – October 2006
Modelling and assessing a power network for reliable, effective and safe power distribution and future growth.
Background
The overall aim of this project was to improve the reliability and security of the electricity networks of the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA), which would help to eliminate or reduce the number of blackouts experienced in Fiji. FEA is responsible for generating, transmitting and retailing electricity on the larger Fijian islands, Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Ovalau, which account for some 90% of the country’s population. Installed generation capacity is approximately 237 MW.
Solution
Entura visited FEA during the tendering phase to fully understand the objectives of the project and the clients’ needs, and to then put in place a range of planning and operating guidelines, as well as practical tools, to facilitate coordinated future network growth and generation developments.
Entura specialists worked closely with the client to provide services such as an introductory power system workshop for FEA engineering staff, steady state and dynamic analysis of FEA’s system, a network augmentation and planning process, a review of AVR and governor response characteristics, a review of nationwide SCADA and communications systems, and protection coordination studies.
The diversity of generating units deployed within the system made it difficult to provide accurate models. As well, the level of data provided by manufacturers and equipment suppliers was generally poor. Entura overcame these difficulties through carefully examining equipment and by grouping units in families for which common assumptions could be applied.
Outcome
Entura’s improvements to the client’s information management systems and capability made it more achievable for FEA to maintain the power system models.
Entura’s fluency with multi-vendor SCADA products, backed by a wealth of experience in all facets of engineering and industry sectors, ensured that we delivered reliable, up-to-date, future-proofed and functional solutions.
Entura provided FEA with a current state of its system along with recommendations for the future which gave FEA the flexibility to enhance its SCADA and communication systems without necessarily having to make wholesale changes or needing to retire older but still reliable systems, releasing an efficiency dividend for the business.
