Central Highlands, Australia -- The retrofilling of the existing system should eliminate any immediate need for a costly expansion.

Ergon Energy Networks, an Australian electricity distributor supplying around 97% of the state of Queensland. After an extensive engineering review at the company's Comet substation, approximately 300 km west of Rockhampton, a decision was made to replace the transformer's mineral-oil-based insulator - a process known as retrofilling.

"Comet substation is very small, and if we were to install a traditional oil containment system, it would require us to expand the site and that would be a really expensive exercise." said Steven Lowry, Ergon Energy Networks Manager, Capricornia West

"We are using an earthen bund arrangement that directs the ester to an oil separation tank. This means we can realistically look at doing something similar at some of our other rural substations, and we can do it in a much more environmentally responsible and safe way that delivers value for our customers,", Lowry concluded.

Source: MIDEL