The introduction of commercial drones to the market has given many industries the potential to revolutionise the way they conduct business.

Inspecting power lines and transmission towers has always been a high-risk job, particularly as many inspections require helicopters to fly very low in order to get accurate visuals. From a health and safety perspective not only is this dangerous, but it also disrupts the local environment.

Since 2016, Broadspectrum has been testing new technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, fitted with high resolution cameras to inspect the towers and transmission lines throughout Auckland. Since then this service has carried out over 600 kilometres of successful missions.

The electrical grid is undergoing a rapid transition from centralised power generation to smaller distributed power generators, closer to the consumer — to include renewable energy like solar and wind. In addition, utilities are being demanded to increase overall efficiency and reduce peaks in energy demand. While these issues might seem small, the current grid is built and reliant on old technology and infrastructure. Historically, antiquated electromechanical devices — including capacitor banks, line voltage regulators and load tap changers — have provided voltage and VAR control as the only option to electric utility operators. But with dramatic changes impacting the electric grid today, including PV solar, energy efficiency and peak demand reduction, a new class of voltage and VAR regulation is needed.

In the 1960s when the first crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated medium voltage (MV) cables were installed, industry expected them to perform reliably for 20-30 years.

History shows that the service life of some of these early cables failed after only 10-15 years due to defects from voltage stress, moisture and other imperfections within the cable structure. It has been estimated that for every dollar that utilities spent installing cable, they had to spend at least 10 dollars to replace it, with some still dealing with this today.

Understanding what’s important to clients and their industry specific needs is of the upmost priority to General Metal Recyclers. In response GMR has employed Carl Whittington as the organisation's new Key Client Liaison Manager to project-manage the safe removal of redundant power assets for the sector.

Whittington says: "I have spent most of my working career (30 years) working on and around servicing and maintaining high voltage equipment.

“Having a passion for undertaking projects that are deemed in the 'too hard basket' and turning them into a successful outcome for the client is what gives me job satisfaction.

Opportunities in the energy sector are there for the taking for women. Companies are looking to hire more women each day due to the diversity, unique perspective and skills they bring to the workplace.

Connexis, the Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation, says they have seen a positive shift in their trainee numbers since 2015 when they first introduced the Girls with Hi-Vis® initiative under their Ultimit – Women in Infrastructure programme. The initiative was developed to address the recruitment challenge within the sector.

The electrical grid is undergoing a rapid transition from centralised power generation to smaller distributed power generators, closer to the consumer—to include renewable energy like solar and wind. In addition, utilities are being demanded to increase overall efficiency and reduce peaks in energy demand. While these issues might seem small, the current grid is built and reliant on old technology and infrastructure. Historically, antiquated electromechanical devices—including capacitor banks, line voltage regulators and load tap changers, have provided voltage and VAR control as the only option to electric utility operators. But with dramatic changes impacting the electric grid today, including PV solar, energy efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction, a new class of voltage and VAR regulation is needed.

By Bridget McDonald, Policy Advisor at Vector.

“The National Electricity Market is largely broken and needs to be reset” is how the Australian Consumer and Commerce Commission (ACCC) summed up its review of the Australian electricity market earlier this year.

It’s not surprising given residential power bills in Australia have increased by 35 per cent in the past 10 years. It’s now understood that years of poorly designed policy and regulation have led to highly concentrated markets – and a serious affordability issue for Australian consumers and businesses.

By Bridget McDonald, Policy Advisor at Vector

Internationally renowned regulatory economist Martin Cave was in New Zealand this month to share insights from the UK’s retail electricity pricing review.

Commissioned by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the study found compelling evidence that 70 percent of households were paying substantially more for electricity compared to a smaller group of ‘engaged consumers’.

These consumers were engaging in ‘search and switch’ tactics to scoop up better deals, while the bulk of the disengaged population remained on default tariffs, and paying much higher prices.

2018 Asia Pacific Energy Leaders” Summit - More speakers confirmed...don't miss out!

This year's Summit is a must attend event for those who want to be better equipped to understand and deal with change, especially the key linkage between climate change and the opportunities directly in front of us to support the transition to decarbonise economies in a cost efficient way. As someone with a strong interest in energy you know that dramatic and rapid change is enabling new and bold environmental and market outcomes. Global and local energy markets are in a state of transition. But what will the future energy system look like and how can you be a part of it? This biennial Summit builds on our successful 2016 event by moving beyond the identification of risks and challenges the sector faces to owning, understanding and acting on them.

Have you ever wondered if someone else is reading your emails? Have you ever responded to a phishing email? How do you know your staff haven’t done so in your corporate environment? Are you sure a hacker hasn’t already gained access to your corporate information? Does your organisation comply with best practice recommendations and/or regulatory requirements? How do you know?

Risk is inherent in everything we do, especially in business. We all need to take risks to grow and develop our organisations, and, in our fast-paced world, the risks we have to manage are changing and evolving quickly. New cyber threats appear almost daily, disruptive competition is likely around the corner, and it is getting harder to predict future demand for energy.

An overview of the Thermal Diffusion Galvanising Process and its application in Electrical Line and Substation Hardware.

Do you have corrosion problems in Line and Substation hardware that is prematurely limiting the life of your electrical equipment?

Metal corrosion on galvanised parts and equipment - particularly in coastal areas is a significant problem in the utility industry. Lifespan of Hot Dipped Galvanised (HDG) parts is typical 5-15 years which is generally significantly less than the mechanical life expectancy of the parts or equipment.

Almost all line trucks and crews have amongst their equipment a phase tester. In New Zealand, most organisations only provide the probe type to the men working on the lines - which means working closer to the live line than they really need to. New developments now incorporate wireless based technology to reduce this risk.

With a 90 meter range, a wireless phasing set (WPS) can be used to check the phase relationship between two energized conductors even with obstructions such as the distance between transformers, a large intersection or other obstructions. It can be used on underground as well as overhead lines. Without the connection cable between probes, a Wireless Phasing Set makes the job quicker, simpler and safer.