Upgrade of Whangārei and Kaipara electricity substations underway
New Zealand: Northpower is spending just over $18 M replacing ageing transformers around Whangārei and Kaipara for better electricity supply security.
Image source: NZ Herald
New Zealand: Northpower is spending just over $18 M replacing ageing transformers around Whangārei and Kaipara for better electricity supply security.
Ageing switchboards within the sub-stations will also be replaced, Northpower customer experience manager Rachel Wansbone said.
Upgrade of the sub-stations at Ngunguru, Parua Bay and Hikurangi are the first of seven sub-stations to be upgraded over 10 years. Load growth is also expected as more electric vehicles are charged on the Northpower network.
“We will be upgrading them to the new safer gas-insulated vacuum-sealed circuit breakers, which are safer to operate than the older oil-insulated circuit breakers. Seven switchboard upgrades are planned over the coming 10 years,” Wansbone said.
The Hikurangi substation will have two new transformers installed, doubling the capacity of the substation to allow for growth in the area and giving higher reliability of supply for residents in the area.
The $4.8 M project has been ongoing for nearly a year.
The Ngunguru substation will also get a new transformer and switchboard and upgraded from 3.75 MW to 5 MW.
With high population growth in the area, Parua Bay substation is also getting an upgrade. The current 3.75 MW transformer installed in 1956 will be changed to 5 MW transformer and bunding, fire and earthquake protection and noise emission will be improved as part of a $1.2 M investment.
Northpower will spend $2.7 M upgrading the Kensington substation next year and work will involve reconfiguring the high voltage feeders that come from the transpower grid as well as upgrading transformers and circuit breakers.
A second 10 MVA transformer and switch upgrade costing $3.1 M is being planned at the Bream Bay substation while $6 M will be spent moving switchgear indoors in Maungatapere.
The lines company will replace transformers and switchgear at its Ruawai substation at a cost of $1.9 M.
Source: NZ Herald
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