Renewable Energy Zones
In response to the Energy Transition, state governments have each developed strategies to meet the targets set for carbon emission reductions , leading to the high demand for development of Renewable Energy Generation sources and associated High Voltage Electricity Transmission infrastructure, known as Renewable Energy Zones (REZs). REZs are the equivalent of modern-day power stations. They combine:
- new renewable energy infrastructure, including generators (such as solar and wind farms)
- storage (such as batteries and pumped hydro)
- high-voltage transmission infrastructure.
By connecting multiple renewable energy projects and electricity storage, REZs capitalise on economies of scale to deliver cheap, reliable, and clean electricity for homes and businesses.
The Challenge
Our client, a national ASX listed Energy Infrastructure operator, retained Devbase to stand up a specialist bid support team of Transmission Network Service Provider experts which would develop proposals for establishment of a new TNSP business to operate the Central West Orana REZ . These proposals would subsequently be presented by our advisors to the NSW Government Jurisdictional Planning body EnergyCo. Our client formed one half of a Joint Venture partnership with an international Construction and Financing firm which would subsequently prepare the Design and Construction Proposal for the consortium bid.
The Solution
Devbase were retained on a secondment basis to provide workstream leadership and subject matter expert support through its experienced team while delivering to the client industry sector credibility through our advisor respected sector relationships. Specifically Devbase stood up a multi-disciplinary team of 18 advisors, retained to deliver significant strategy , process and procedure guidance across the following themes :
TNSP Capability Development
Designed and implemented Network Operating Model for TNSP.
- Developed Operations Philosophy, Operating a Network Workflow, NEM Operating Documents Hierarchy
- Developed key stakeholder engagement agendas for business operations (AEMO, EnergyCo, ENA, Councils, Customer Panels, et al)
- Completed an Integrated Management Systems (IMS) maturity assessment (asset, safety, HSE, quality, risk)
TNSP Operational Readiness
Operations Functional Design Requirements specification to support safe and efficient NEM operations.
- Developed and implemented Operational Readiness Plan framework
- Developed and implemented Electricity Network Safety Management System and asset risk framework
- Developed Contemporary High Voltage and Low Voltage Isolation & Access Protocols (Electrical Safety Rules) for integrated field / control room / AEMO operations
National Electricity Market Operations
Developed Technical requirement documents Energy Management System and Enterprise Asset Management System
- Authored technical papers on TNSP network issues – CIGRE
- Developed and implemented NEM Critical Operations Procedures eg Outage Management
- Developed and implemented Operating playbook scenarios for major incidents: eg Black start, TNSP registration, Commissioning
- Developed policies & procedures for Resilience, Bushfire, Easement, Vegetation, Weed Control and Fauna Management
TNSP Systems
Established TNSP Asset Management System for ISO55000 accreditation
- Completed AM Policy, Strategic Asset Management Plan, Asset Management plans, Engineering Design requirements developed.
- Draft IT/ OT/ Cyber technical requirements and roadmap for Operational systems
- Developed Strategies, Policies, Life Cycle Management Plans and Engineering Design Principles
- Designed and implemented Organisation Structure to support core TNSP Operator Functions
Our Impact
Our Client recognised the depth of industry sector expertise offered by Devbase and sought to engage our team for a further 12 month period beyond the initial bid project to work on TNSP maturity uplift program and position the business for subsequent REZ opportunities.
Our Advisors were retained to further the strategy and procedure development work commenced during the CWO bid and assist the client in preparing for the New England REZ bid process while the client established its' own in house team. The client's feedback at the end of our 24 month engagement acknowledged our unique ability to offer highly developed operational expertise in TNSP operations that is not traditionally available outside of the client's own business.
