System constraints

System constraints are the result of system parameters.

System constraints are designed for the secure operation of the power system within the technical envelope.

System Control issues risk notification to meet its obligation to notify participants of changes to the risk.

The table below summarises current long-standing system constraints, which effect system participants in the Darwin-Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs generation, transmission, and distribution networks.

Risk notification of duration of less than one month and for an outage of a single generation/network asset are not published on this page and are managed in line with the Plant Outage Procedure.

The following terminology has been used:

OTR: Outage/Testing Request
LTRN: Long Term Risk Notice
SC: System Constraint
NRN: Non-Reliable Notice

For more information on the information presented below please contact SCOperationsPlanning.PWC@powerwater.com.au.

Region	ID	Commencement Date and Time	Anticipated End Date and Time	Constraint	Constraint Description
Alice Springs	OTR 1910997 (LTRN AS)	13/10/2019 19:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Alice Springs Power System Operation Change (Spinning Reserve, number of machines required at Alice Springs, BESS and Load Bank dispatch during low load conditions and Contingency Plans has been updated as required)
Alice Springs	OTR 2109071 (LTRN AS)	29/09/2021 0:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Ron Goodin BESS is allowed to operate on up to three containers online at a time, with a restriction limit of 255kVA per inverter (resulting in maximum output of 510 kVA per container and total maximum BESS output of 1.5 MVA).
Alice Springs	OTR 2205005 (LTRN AS)	06/05/2022	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Black Start capability at Ron Goodin Power Station is limited due to multiple Forced Outages. Loads can be restored via RGPS however energising of the Sadadeen Transformers is unlikely.
Alice Springs	N/A	N/A	Until further notice	Generation and Network Restriction	OSPS generation output is constrained to a dynamic minimum figure (load dependent), which is real time calculated and displayed in Areva EMS. This is to prevent overloading of Lovegrove Sadadeen Ties 1 or 2 in the event of a contingency.
Darwin-Katherine	N/A	14/02/2022	No end date	Generation Restriction	Power and Water anticipates increased demand for (overlapping) requests of on-grid testing of new connections. Refer to interim advice for guidance on the intended mechanism for equitable access for all participants seeking such test windows.
Darwin-Katherine	N/A	N/A	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	To ensure power system security, stability and reliability is maintained for all users of the power system, System Control has determined that access to testing (inclusive of compliance and commissioning testing) for sites connected to the 132kV Channel Island - Katherine line, will be on the basis of one (1) site/unit at a time with preference given to operational units in line with the Plant Outage Procedure.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2003064 (LTRN DKIS)	25/03/2020 6:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Changes to Minimum Spinning Reserve in Darwin-Katherine Power System. High levels of Behind The Meter (BTM) solar generation volatility is resulting in frequent Spinning Reserve breaches in Darwin-Katherine Power System.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2005997 (LTRN DKIS)	22/05/2020 6:30	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Due to low loads forecasted and encountered during the Dry Season period, additional instructions is provided to controllers to assist in meeting dispatch and system security requirements during low loads in range of 60MW – 135 MW.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2010080 (LTRN DKIS)	16/11/2020 10:30	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	The Spray Intercooling (SPRINT) function of generating units at Weddell Power Station (WPS) has been restricted for system security reasons . One SPRINT is to be kept in reserve at all times. This is to only be utilised in the event of: - machine failure to start - unexpected step increase in load - unexpected step decrease in generation. This SPRINT is to be taken offline once appropriate action has been taken to address the relevant shortfall.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2102021 (LTRN DKIS)	10/02/2021 00:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Imposed operating restrictions on all Katherine Power Station generating units such that minimum run time is 3 hours, and minimum downtime is 6 hours (between stopping and starting).
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2308001 (LTRN DKIS)	01/08/2023 00:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	To reduce the impact on DKPS in the event of 132kV CI-MT line loss, a generation export limit (into CIPS) has been applied. To limit the size of the contingency (of losing 132kV CI-MT line), generation export from South to North (at the CIPS end) is limited to the size of the largest available generating unit, approximately 40MW.
Darwin-Katherine	SC D2016/171256	11/07/2015 8:00	Until further notice	Generation and Network Restriction	Weddell generation output is constrained to a dynamic maximum figure that is dependent on load and calculated in real time. This is to prevent post contingent overloading of network transmission lines.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2309044 (LTRN DKIS)	18/09/2023 0:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Guidance has been issued to the controllers to assist in managing the 132kV CIPS node output if the only two available Frame 6 units are connected to the same node.
Darwin-Katherine	OTR 2311032 (LTRN DKIS)	10/11/2023 0:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Guidance has been issued to the controllers to assist in managing the system if a single Frame 6 unit is available for dispatch.
Tennant Creek	OTR 1902028	13/12/2019 17:00	Until further notice	Generation Restriction	Constraints for generation dispatch have been developed based on review of historical events to improve the reliability of the power system against network contingencies.

Last updated 12 Apr 2024 10:15am