Powerlink Queensland (Australia)

With the ongoing trend of electrification in transportation, the charging demand from electric vehicles (EVs) is imposing an increasingly significant additional load on the existing power grid, especially on distribution networks. To reduce the short-term high peak demand of the distribution network, cost-effective electricity prices, such as time-of-use (TOU) tariffs, have been introduced to encourage EV customers to shift their load demand to off-peak periods. However, no existing studies have comprehensively analyzed the impacts of EV charging on distribution networks considering the effects of key parameters such as the proportion of customers on TOU tariffs, EV penetration levels, various daily charging frequencies and charging power levels. To address this gap, this paper proposes an innovative modelling approach that incorporates various proportions of these parameters. Critical analyses are presented for a real distribution network in South Australia with year-round smart meter data. The results indicate that this approach enhances the ability to assess the impact of EV charging on distribution networks by integrating the combined effects of key parameters. At 80% EV penetration, the evening peak demand under 100% Flat tariff increases by over 30%. If 25% of the customers charge EVs using TOU tariffs, the maximum transformer utilization during the evening peak can be reduced by approximately 8.5%; however, this results in a new demand peak at the beginning of the TOU off-peak period. For most load scenarios, the existing TOU tariffs exacerbates network load fluctuations and increases maximum transformer utilization.

As renewables increasingly replace conventional energy systems, batteries have become a critical component of the modern energy landscape. To analyse this transition, the diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory has been modified by introducing a new attribute- extensibility- alongside relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Extensibility refers to the ability of technological innovation to adapt and grow in response to changing requirements. The study uses a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders to explore the implications of the battery energy transition. This data is analysed using thematic analysis through the lens of the modified diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory focusing on extensibility. The versatility of batteries in serving multiple purposes, such as energy storage, grid balancing, and backup power.

Link worker social prescribing programs are gaining recognition in Australia for addressing health and social needs outside routine medical care. The evaluation of these programs is essential for informing future social prescribing programs, research and evolving policy. However, diverse outcome evaluation measures present challenges for benchmarking across link worker social prescribing programs. An integrative review was conducted to identify and describe outcome domains and measures, and the methodological approaches and evaluation designs of link worker social prescribing programs in Australia. Comprehensive searches of the literature on link worker social prescribing programs in Australia were conducted across 14 electronic databases. In order to reduce the risk of bias, study selection and data extraction were conducted independently by multiple authors, and included studies underwent quality and risk of bias assessment using the standardised Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Outcome domains were categorised into ‘person-level’, ‘system-level’ and ‘program implementation’ domains. Despite the variation in participant groups, the ‘person-level’ domains of global well-being and social well-being were consistently evaluated. While measurement tools varied significantly, the WHO Quality of Life Brief Assessment and short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale were most commonly applied. At the system level, health service utilisation was primarily evaluated. This integrative review reports on the current state of evidence in Australia, with the potential to track changes and trends over time. Developing a core outcome set, incorporating stakeholder and consumer contributions for benchmarking aligned with the healthcare landscape is recommended. The findings may guide the refining of social prescribing initiatives and future research, ensuring methodological robustness and alignment with individual and community needs.

Increasing penetration of distributed energy resources is manifesting as voltage regulation challenges in many LV networks. Appropriate regulation of supply voltage magnitude is essential to ensure efficacy and efficiency in the operation of electricity supply networks and consumer equipment. While the theoretical impacts of supply voltage magnitude on the performance of consumer equipment, which include additional energy consumption and decreased equipment lifespan as voltage magnitude increases, are relatively well known, this has not been translated into quantitative impacts. This paper applies the outcomes of previous impact of supply voltage magnitude studies by the authors, in conjunction with domestic load models, to develop algorithms to estimate the quantitative impacts of supply voltage magnitude on consumers. The paper then applies these algorithms to calculate quantitative economic impacts that can be associated with the magnitude of the supply voltage. The outcomes of this research suggest that the per-annum impact of supply voltage magnitude on consumer equipment loss of life is potentially an order of magnitude greater than the resultant increased energy consumption based on case studies using Australian data.

Scaling-up Variable Renewable Energy will face critical bottlenecks vis-a-vis requisite transmission hosting capacity. Network developments must navigate the complexity of encroaching on private land, risk disturbing sites of cultural significance, compete with other environmental (i.e. biodiversity) objectives, and endure backlash from directly affected communities. Transmission is costly and post-pandemic supply-chain constraints are sending equipment costs higher. Given time and cost risks, existing transmission networks and successful augmentations need to function at their outer operating envelope. In this article, a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is examined by comparing static, seaonal and real-time dynamic line ratings. Historically, seasonal line ratings in the Queensland region of Australia's National Electricity Market reflected the still, hot conditions that characterised critical event maximum demand days. Widespread take-up rates of rooftop solar PV has shifted maximum (grid-supplied) demand to the late-afternoon when wind speeds are rising, which also provides thermal cooling to transmission lines. Optimisation modelling suggests a shift from static to dynamic line ratings for a reference 275 kV radial REZ in Queensland can increase wind hosting capacity from ∼1700 MW to >2800 MW with limited change in the asset base. Dynamically adjusting Frequency Control Ancillary Services further increases VRE hosting capacity.

The electrification of transportation plays a key role to achieve net-zero emission goals. This requires high-performance sustainable electric machines. There has not been a clear study to design high-performance EMs while minimizing their carbon footprint. In recent years, employing new materials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and soft magnetic composites in electrical machines has been studied. This research presents a study on future opportunities and challenges in the electrical machine industry employing new materials in EM designs. A commercial 1-kW, 4-pole, 3-phase surface permanent magnet motor is selected as a case study of the effect of replacing laminated steels with SMC, and copper with CNT yarns. The benchmark motor is experimentally tested to verify the finite-element method model. The benchmark motor is optimized to compare the optimum design performance with the designs using new materials. The results show that employing new materials resulted in higher power density designs and with sufficiently high CNT conductivity, can achieve comparable efficiency.

It may be tempting for researchers to stick to incremental extensions of their current work to plan future research activities. Yet there is also merit in realizing the grand challenges in one’s field. This paper presents an overview of the nine major research problems for the Business Process Management discipline. These challenges have been collected by an open call to the community, discussed and refined in a workshop setting, and described here in detail, including a motivation why these problems are worth investigating. This overview may serve the purpose of inspiring both novice and advanced scholars who are interested in the radical new ideas for the analysis, design, and management of work processes using information technology.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable change in the flow of reactive power in power network systems around the world. A part of this change could be due to residential household appliances, particularly with the increasing use of LEDs and battery-powered devices with switch-mode power supplies. This study investigates the power characteristics of 56 modern appliances and devices. The results indicate a major change in the electrical behavior across these household appliances and devices. In particular, LED technology and switch mode power supplies are likely to increase household reactive power injection, which will increase as penetration of these products grows, particularly with government programs often incentivizing their uptake. A variety of avenues are available to address these issues, including governments requiring appliance manufacturers to display the power factor of their appliances or device. In time, appliance manufacturers may develop new products that have built-in power factor correction. Overall, the findings highlight how efforts to be sustainable with energy use may have unintended consequences on other parts of the electrical system that need to be considered for the sustainability of the system as a whole.

This paper studies the impact of solar generation on the distribution network voltage and analyses the impact using a number of voltage indices. These voltage indices take into account any deviation or rise from nominal voltage, voltage ramps, and voltage variances. In addition, a machine learning (ML) based model to predict the voltage indices as a function of solar generation has been implemented. A real-life case study considering 18 medium voltage distribution feeders in Australia including residential, industrial, hospital and laboratory feeders with three phase voltage data from phasor measurement units and postcode level solar generation data has been presented. Statistical analysis of the voltage indices shows that most of the feeders experience voltage rise during maximum solar generation periods. The analysis also considers the impact of a generation trip event and finds that the voltage indices violate significantly before a power outage. It can be observed that the ML models can predict the voltage indices more accurately when these indices are discretized.

Crossarms are widely used in power distribution and telecommunication sectors to support overhead cables. These structures are horizontally attached to the top of vertically erected utility poles and are essential elements in connecting overhead cables to the poles. Timber is the dominantly used material type for crossarms in the existing distribution networks. Nevertheless, there are alternative crossarms made from steel, composites, polymers, and even from concrete. This paper reviews the studies on the condition assessment of timber crossarms considering the aspects of decay identification and flexural strength assessment. The limitations and shortcomings of the conventional inspection techniques for crossarms are presented. Then, the studies on the developments of non-destructive test methods to address these issues are reviewed. Further, the results from the experimental work conducted to assess the structural capacity of in-service crossarms are presented and analysed. In addition, the possible future advancements of alternative crossarm types are also discussed, considering the mechanical strength, durability performance, and sustainability aspects. This paper aims to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different condition assessment techniques for crossarms, indicating the importance of an integrated approach combining both the conventional and non-destructive testing techniques.