Between 2020 and 2024, Fyfe gas and energy experts worked on the new Snapper Point peaking power station in South Australia across the project lifecycle, taking the project from feasibility studies to the operation phase.
Overview
Working with Fyfe, Port Adelaide Energy (PAE) has established a new peaking power plant near the Pelican Point station, 22 km north-west of Adelaide, South Australia.
Peaking power plants provide additional electricity in peak demand periods. Designed to be flexible and intermittent, they help ensure grid stability and reliability by supplying extra power when demand exceeds the supply generated by renewable sources. Equipped with rapid generation technologies, such as gas turbines, peaking plants can ramp up quickly to meet sudden increases in demand and ramp down when demand decreases.
Gas is an important part of Australia’s energy transition, as outlined in the Future Gas Strategy (FGS), serving as a cleaner alternative to other sources while renewable energy infrastructure is developed and road tested.
Strategically locating gas plants to complement renewable resources also aids grid integration, leveraging existing infrastructure to support the transition.
Fyfe’s role and responsibilities
The Snapper Point project involved relocating five TM2500 gas turbine generators and Balance of Plant (BOP) equipment from Edinburgh, establishing 275kV and 66kV Switchyards, and integrating BOP thermal and electrical equipment into a newly established site at Outer Harbor, South Australia.
Our work on this project spanned various crucial phases from concept design to commissioning support. Fyfe teams provided invaluable expertise and support from conception to the plant’s first operation in 2022 and beyond, handling:
- Feasibility studies
- Concept designs
- Project management
- Health, safety and environment advisory support
- CRAW, HAZOP and HAZID
- Grid Connection Activities – Connection Enquiry, Application to Connect, Generator registration, R2 preparation and support
- Commissioning support for both gas and electrical compliance
- Commercial and Contractual Support
- Concept and detailed design of the power augmentation scope
- Concept design and procurement of the plant’s noise reduction installations.
Our successful approach to this project was characterised by close collaboration with stakeholders including PAE, the network operator and regulatory bodies.
Challenges
A single point of connection and other factors meant that Snapper Point needed a bespoke Power Plant Controller (PPC). We identified facility performance issues related to the implementation of the PPC during generator testing.
To ensure compliance with the National Electricity Rules, in particular the Q response settling times, we completed a significant number of additional investigations and assessments after R2 commissioning to solve these issues.
Working with the facility owner, relay supplier, generator modelling team and the Network Service Provider (NSP) we undertook in-depth analysis of the relay function blocks, detailed assessment of previous test results, tuning and validation of AVR and PPC parameters, both in the model and the equipment, and finally, completing on-site validation testing.
In April 2024, we achieved Generator Performance Standards (GPS) compliance and proved the model. Fyfe also provided technical analysis and testing reports that the NSP accepted and approved.
If you’re looking for an integrated team that’s capable of handling complex renewable and conventional energy projects, at any point in the asset lifecycle, please contact us.
