The state government is starting an Australian-first trial in the Sunshine Coast region to improve efficiencies on its high-voltage electricity transmission network.
The 12-month trial by government-owned corporation Powerlink has deployed eight portable weather stations and 22 powerline-mounted sensors along 200km of high-voltage lines between Palmwoods and Woolooga, west of Gympie, to gather real-time data to improve electricity output.
The technology uses live local weather data, including wind speed and air temperature, to determine dynamic line ratings, or how much electricity a transmission line can safely carry at any moment.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said the trial aimed to improve delivery of affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for Queenslanders.
“Having real-time data to increase flow of the electricity network can deliver genuine benefits to how we can deliver electricity to Queensland homes,” he said.
“This technology allows power to be dialled up across the existing network where the weather conditions allow, which in turn minimises the need to build new infrastructure.
“This is our Energy Roadmap policy in action – improving existing energy assets while building what Queensland needed for the future.”
Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said the technology would not only benefit his Sunshine Coast electorate but the wider Queensland community.
“If successful, this trial in Nicklin will help deliver a most efficient-energy asset for all of Queensland,” he said.
Powerlink acting interim chief executive Stewart Bell said the company was focused on embracing innovation.
“Favourable weather conditions can significantly impact how much power can flow across transmission lines. Even a slight increase in wind speed could safely increase the capacity of line transfers by up to 40 per cent,” he said.
“Done well, congestion across our network will decrease, productivity of how Powerlink’s assets are used will improve, and can reduce the amount of new transmission lines that need to be built.
“We will run this trial for at least a year to capture all weather seasons, as well as to allow the information to be incorporated into Powerlink’s network operating software.”
