Boost to Gisborne’s security of electricity supply

3 May 2007

Boost to Gisborne’s security of electricity supply

The successful completion of an electricity supply upgrade for Gisborne is being celebrated today by Transpower and Eastland Network (which is managed by Eastland Infrastructure).

Two new transformers have been installed at Transpower’s Gisborne substation. The $4 million, 18 month project has effectively doubled the capacity of Gisborne substation.

The previous transformers each had a rating of 30 MVA. The new transformers each have a rating of 60 MVA and will meet projected load growth in the Gisborne and East Coast areas for the next 15 to 20 years.

As part of the project the protection systems and other substation equipment have also been upgraded. Transpower’s GM National Grid David Laurie said all of this will work to increase the security of supply in the Gisborne area.

“The completion of the project is the culmination of Transpower and Eastland Network working together for several years to determine an effective solution to meet the increasing Gisborne load.”

Eastland Infrastructure CEO Matt Todd supports Mr Laurie’s comments and adds that the substation upgrade is complementary to the establishment of local generation.

“Eastland Infrastructure is pleased to have been able to collaborate with Transpower on this project and congratulates them and their contractors on the successful completion of the project. The upgrade of the Gisborne substation is important in meeting immediate future electricity requirements of the Gisborne region and will complement the development of local generation which Eastland Infrastructure believes is the most effective way to meet long term electricity demand.”

David Laurie said implementation of the project went very smoothly. “Good project planning and the skill of the contractors meant no major problems were encountered.”

The contractors involved in the project were Electrix and United Group. The designers were Tesla Consultants and the engineer to the contract was Halligan and Boyd.

Following on from the Gisborne substation upgrade, Transpower is now investigating an upgrade of the transmission lines linking Gisborne to the rest of the national grid. These lines have sufficient capacity to meet the existing Gisborne load, but the forecast peak load will start to exceed capacity in 2010. As such Transpower is expecting to carry out the line upgrade work by 2009.

ENDS

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