The Northern Territory Government has announced the arrival of the territory’s first mobile substation, Nomad B.

 

“These mobile substations will add more resilience to Power and Water’s electricity network than ever before,” Territory Minister for essential services Rob Knight said.


“A mobile substation is just that; a substation which is permanently housed on a purpose-built semitrailer that can be mobilised and integrated into Power and Water’s electricity network in the event of equipment failure or routine maintenance.

 

The purchase of Nomad B forms part of the Territory Government’s $1.8 billion, five year investment plan to deliver improved electricity generation and distribution services as well as better water and sewerage infrastructure services.

 

Nomad B’s first assignment will be at Humpty Doo while maintenance is carried out at the substation. In early 2012 it will be sent to Pine Creek while major scheduled maintenance is carried out.


The second mobile substation, Nomad A, is expected to be delivered to Darwin late in 2011 and will be ready for use in the first quarter of 2012.


The mobile substations will be joined by a mobile switch room late in 2012 to further improve Power and Water’s contingency ability and network resilience.

 

Each mobile substation weights in at 54 tonnes, and has remote communications integrated into the design.  This means that Power and Water’s control centre can monitor their performance remotely and they are not required to be “manned”.