Niue Island Power Station BESS & MSB Upgrade
- Maxwell
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Updated: May 9
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Project Overview and Background
Maxwell Electrotech Pty Ltd was engaged by Arnold Switchboards to provide detailed engineering support for the Niue Island Power Station upgrade project. Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific, relying heavily on diesel generators and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for power generation.
The project involved a significant upgrade of the power generation infrastructure, including:
Replacement of 4 x 508kW diesel generators with 2 x 1026kW generators
Replacement of the existing LV switchboard
Upgrade of two 750kVA transformers with 2 x 1000kVA transformers
Reconfiguration of the existing Tesla BESS to allow the station to operate without relying solely on diesel generators
The objective was to enhance the station's efficiency and improve sustainability by reducing dependency on diesel fuel and optimising the integration of renewable energy sources through the BESS.
Maxwell Industries' role was to provide comprehensive engineering assessments and documentation to ensure the new power infrastructure met operational requirements and industry standards.
Project outcomes and impact
The Niue Island Power Station project has delivered transformative benefits to the island's power infrastructure. Maxwell Electrotech's comprehensive engineering solutions ensured compliance, enhanced reliability, and improved safety standards. The station now operates with greater efficiency and resilience, equipped to handle future power demands while supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy model. The combination of improved power quality, reduced downtime, and enhanced safety measures has positioned the station to meet the island's growing energy needs while lowering operational costs and environmental impact.
Project Deliverables
Arc Flash Study
Independent Arc Flash Analysis: Completed a detailed arc flash study using "As Installed" site data to assess system performance under different supply conditions.
Scenario Evaluation: Analysed three operating scenarios—switchboard supplied by both generators, a single generator, and the BESS without generator supply—to identify the worst-case incident energy.
Recommendations and Labelling: Documented appropriate PPE requirements and developed clear arc flash labelling for installation on the switchboard.
Earthing Study and Cable Compliance
Site Assessment: Evaluated the "As Installed" earthing and cabling on-site to confirm proper installation and performance.
Compliance Verification: Verified compliance with cable current carrying capacity, short circuit performance, earth fault loop impedance, touch potential, and disconnection times.
Bonding Compliance: Ensured equipotential bonding met industry standards and documented all findings in a compliance report.
Lightning Protection Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment: Conducted a lightning protection risk assessment following AS/NZS 1768:2021 guidelines.
Protection Recommendations: Advised installing surge protection devices (SPDs) on transformers, generators, and BESS supply feeders.
Risk Reduction: Confirmed that residual risk levels were within acceptable limits after implementing recommended mitigation
Switchboard Design Verification
Standard Compliance: Verified the switchboard design against AS/NZS 61439 and AS/NZS 3000 standards to ensure it met construction and operational requirements.
Design Verification: Assessed the switchboard's design parameters, including rated current, operational voltage, and insulation strength, to confirm compliance with design specifications.
Short Circuit Withstand: Evaluated the switchboard's ability to withstand short circuit conditions without damage, confirming compliance with rated short-time withstand and peak withstand currents.
Equipment Compliance: Assessed the installed components to verify that they met manufacturer specifications and complied with design and operational requirements.
Power Quality Study
Data Collection: Installed a power quality analyser at key locations within the station to measure real-time site data over a one-week period.
Standard Assessment: Evaluated the collected data against IEEE 519 and AS/NZS 61000.3.4 standards to ensure compliance with harmonic and voltage stability requirements.
Harmonic Analysis: Identified voltage and current harmonic distortion issues and their impact on system performance.
Mitigation Recommendations: Provided targeted recommendations to reduce harmonic distortion and improve overall power quality.
Challenges and issues overcome
The project presented several key challenges that were effectively managed to ensure successful delivery. Incomplete historical data from previous reports required Maxwell Industries to conduct an independent arc flash study to address gaps and ensure comprehensive analysis of all supply scenarios. The remote location of Niue Island introduced logistical difficulties for site investigations and equipment installation, which were mitigated through careful planning and coordination with Arnold Switchboards. The complex system configuration, involving both generator and BESS supply, introduced difficulties in protection coordination and load balancing, which were resolved through detailed modelling and verification.
