Powering up Taranaki’s second largest town

This complex, 17-stage substation refurbishment utilised new technologies including laser scanning and 3D modelling to reconfigure 70% of the site, expand footprint by 50%, and ultimately provide a more stable and reliable power supply to the region.

Transpower’s Hawera Substation provides a critical power supply to a number of stakeholders in the Taranaki region, including the 12’000-strong Hawera township, Fonterra’s Whareroa dairy factory, Trustpower’s Patea Generation, and the Origin Energy-operated Kupe onshore gas production station.

A refurbishment was required to replace ageing assets and upgrade the busbar to 1200 amps. This involved a complex 17-stage construction sequence, encompassing all civil, structural, primary electrical, secondary/ protection and transmission line works.

The challenge was it had to be undertaken within the existing substation footprint, in the proximity of live equipment, and while maintaining power supply to Transpower’s multiple existing customers.

As design managers for the project, we prepared the design documentation for the 17 stages of construction. The feasibility of the upgrade was proven through the use of new technologies, including laser scanning to develop a point cloud of the site and 3D modelling of the 110 kV switchyard – a first-in-New Zealand approach for a substation refurbishment of this scale.

By keeping innovation, constructability, and safety front-of-mind throughout the design phase, the project was successfully delivered three months ahead of schedule, with no safety incidents, and project savings of approximately $1.25M. 

Awards:

• ACENZ INNOVATE NZ Awards of Excellence, Merit, 2018
• EEA Engineering Excellence Award, Finalist, 2018