WS4988248497 Regional Reliability Improvement Solutions from Western Power Operated Facilities – Expression of Interest (EOI)

WS4988248497 Regional Reliability Improvement Solutions from Western Power Operated Facilities – Expression of Interest (EOI)

The Organisation 
Western Power is a Western Australian State Government owned corporation which is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating an electricity network which connects over 2.3 million customers to traditional and renewable energy sources. This electricity network is located in the state’s south-west, extending up to Kalbarri, east to Kalgoorlie and south to Albany.

Problem Statement
Within this electricity network, many regional towns are supplied by long rural Distribution feeders which are susceptible to prolonged electricity supply disruptions – this is largely attributed to the extensive exposure of the Distribution assets to inclement environmental conditions. Therefore, customers in a number of these regional towns have been experiencing less than acceptable levels of electricity supply reliability. In addition to its asset management practices, Western Power has been deploying emergency response generators, as a backup source of electricity supply) from Western Power operated facilities. These facilities have been set up in compounds with suitable high voltage Distribution connection points and telemetered switches to operate a microgrid – this is done in response to upstream faults on the Distribution supply from the grid.

While this approach has reduced the duration of many of the electricity supply disruptions, Western Power is seeking to make further improvements though innovative and alternative solutions at the Western Power operated facilities.  

About the opportunity
Western Power is seeking to work with interested parties who can provide solutions to improve reliability of electricity supply and the operation of the Western Power controlled microgrids during electricity network outage events.
Opportunities for improvement include:

1.   Third party designed, installed, owned and maintained generators, instead of Western Power’s emergency response generators.

2.   Third party monitored and managed generators, with suitable control systems for efficient and reliable microgrid operations.

3.   More autonomous and reliable control systems for managing the frequency of the microgrids, while maintaining stable generator operation during times of low demand (in conjunction with rooftop solar output) and high demand. It should be noted that a minimum fault level must be maintained to ensure that Distribution protection devices can operate effectively in clearing faults.

4.   Integration of Distributed Energy Resources e.g. batteries, solar, etc.

Proposed Locations
The generators used to provide the solutions are to be connected at Western Power’s Static High Voltage Injection Unit (SHVIU) sites at 415V (nominal) terminals. Each site, located at a regional town between 120km and 550km from Perth, is under Western Power operational ownership and includes:

•  Site access from a sealed road via compacted limestone base
•  Security fencing
•  1MVA DY1 step-up transformers from 415V (nominal) terminals to medium voltage (e.g. 33kV or 22kV)
•  Earthing transformer and earthing system
•  Ambient temperature of 45 o C
•  Vicinity to Western Power’s telemetered switch (i.e. 22kV or 33kV recloser)

The Scope
Western Power is seeking registrations of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations, for the provision of solutions embedded within Western Power’s SHVIU sites for regional reliability improvement. The solutions must be capable of:

•  Forming and sustaining an islanded microgrid within Western Power’s frequency and voltage limits.
•  Microgrid formation within 5 minutes of a request/signal from Western Power.
•  Sustaining a peak load of 2MW.
•  Sustaining the microgrid for no less than 12 hours.
•  Future expansion to facilitate increased output in the event of energy demand growth.

Registration Requirements
Suppliers are required to respond to the following for its Expression of Interest submission:

•  Demonstrate track record and capability in delivering solutions in relation to the high-level Scope requirements stated above.
•  References from customers for whom your organisation has completed similar solutions.
•  Safety, Health & Environment information to be requested as part of this exercise.

To be considered, please :

1.  Download the questionnaire file below, complete and attached in the registration.

Questionnaire: WS4988248497 NSS Regional Reliability EOI questionnaire form

2.  REGISTER with the online form below no later than 5PM AWST, Monday 3rd March 2025.

*** IMPORTANT ***
Please ensure the following details are included in your registration:
•  Please specify the advertised tender event number you are responding to:

WS4988248497  Regional Reliability Improvement Solutions from Western Power’s Distribution Facilities

•  Commodity Code Number and Title: 83101806 – Rural electrical power distribution

Please note that registering for the opportunity does not guarantee that you will be invited to participate in a market event or become a supplier of Western Power.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact: 
Peter Ling – Senior Category & Contracts Specialist
peter.ling@westernpower.com.au