WWW.ELECTRICALCONNECTION.COM.AU AUTUMN 2021 LEADING THE CHARGE WITH LITHIUM ION RENAISSANCE ONE PUTS INSIDE: AUSTRALIA ON THE MAP SOLAR & BATTERY MEMBERS PLAN AN EYE ON SOLAR INVERTERS AVOIDING FUTURE DEATH TRAPS COMMUNICATION PARTNER Power up with us! LUMBALITE FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTING PRODUCTS 1. PLUG STRAIGHT/ANGLED 3. LBL66PS310F ~ LBL66PS550 Available in 3 pin , 4pin and 5 pin 10A / 15A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A 4. LBL66PA410 ~ LBL66PA550 2. SWITCH Available in 4pin and 5 pin LBL66SW210 ~ LBL66SW363 10A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A Available in 2 pole and 3 pole 2. 10A / 20A / 32A / 63A APPLIANCE INLET 1. 5. LBL66AI310F ~ LBL66AI550 Available in 3 pin , 4pin and 5 pin 10A / 15A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A Round and Flat 3. REAR HOUSING ENCLOSURE LID FOR REAR HOUSING 6. 4. COMBINATION SWITCHED OUTLET 5. EXTENSION SOCKET 6. SOCKET OUTLET LBL66CO310F ~ LBL66CO550 LBL66ES310F ~ LBL66ES550 LBL66SO310F ~ LBL66SO550 Available in 3 pin , 4pin and 5 pin Available in 3 pin , 4pin and 5 pin Available in 3 pin , 4pin and 5 pin 10A / 15A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A 10A / 15A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A 10A / 15A / 20A / 32A / 40A / 50A Round and Flat Round and Flat Round and Flat CIRCUIT PROTECTION Lumbalite Pty Ltd Ph: 02 9682 8555 | Fx: 02 9682 5066 | Mob: 0430 123 321 [email protected] | www.lumbalite.com.au LLMagazine_25092020_Draft.indd 14-15 2020/12/11 12:57 PM Power up with us! Power up with us! LLMagazine_25092020_Draft.indd 14-15 2020/12/11 12:57 PM CONTENTS COVER STORY 10 LEADING THE CHARGE An ambitious new factory in Tomago, NSW aims to put Australia on the map for manufacturing hot weather optimised batteries. Anna Hayes found out more. 10 FEATURES 16 A WINNING FORMULA FOR 30 SWITCHING IT UP REMOTE COMMUNITIES ‘Going green’ is a big priority Aurecon’s breakthrough water for companies and Schneider security innovation for remote Electric has taken a big step communities wins global towards reducing greenhouse engineering award. gases with its new digital 16 switchgear. 20 GET YOUR HANDS ON THE VPP Sunbank Solar and Members REGULARS Energy has built the largest virtual power plant (VPP), giving 06 Editorial users the cheapest and greenest 08 Industry news form of energy. Sean Carroll 42 Solar smarts writes. 46 Estimating AVOIDING FUTURE DEATH TRAPS 24 50 Apprentice corner Peter Vandenheuvel recounts a 52 NECA news 28 tragic story where not one, but two fatal deaths occurred by 81 Trade stuff electrocution, and explores ways to ensure minimal chances of similar occurring in the future. 28 I’LL FOLLOW THE SUN A Queensland solar farm has installed a Nextracker solution which, just like the Beatles song 66 HEALTH title implies, follows the sun. Sean 30 Carroll fi nds out more. 70 BUSINESS 74 TRANSPORT 4 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Autumn 2021 EDITORIAL HEAR, HEAR TO A NEW YEAR www.electricalconnection.com.au hings are really beginning to sources. While some may feel a sense GENERAL MANAGER look up as I sit to write this and of uneasiness because of the fear of Jeremy Sweet [email protected] take a moment to refl ect on the the unknown, I think it’s important T EDITOR year that was 2020. to understand that a lot of these Justin Felix At the time of writing I have just developments and mindset shifts are 03 9542 9024 returned from a weekend away in actually cause for celebration. [email protected] Victoria’s Apollo Bay. While that in New government targets and EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Jeff Patchell itself is fairly insignifi cant, it’s the objectives into the renewable sector jeff [email protected] fi rst time I’d been able to escape will create many jobs for electrical STAFF WRITERS Melbourne and the big smoke, in contractors, and whether you are Anna Hayes, Sean Carroll search of ocean breezes and a change currently working in the space or not, GRAPHIC DESIGNER of scenery. your skill sets will be critical to ensure Sam Elliott Upon approaching the picturesque the adoption and implementation of ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER coastal town, we were greeted by a such initiatives become a reality. Tracey Glanville sign emblazoned with the following As you’ll see in this issue, we’ve SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER words: ‘Welcome back Melbourne. covered a number of exciting Brigitta Novosell Good job, well done’. And we couldn’t renewable projects on the 03 9542 9005 all help but turn to one another and horizon, around the country, and CONTRIBUTORS Phil Kreveld, James Tinslay, Brian Seymour, feel a touch emotional, and of course in each instance highlighted the Peter Vandenheuvel, Dr Kieran Kennedy thankful that – fi ngers crossed – the opportunities that abound for ADVERTISING worst of it is behind us now. contractors and small businesses. Jeremy Sweet 0408 525 675 With that in mind, I think we can [email protected] all breathe a collective sigh of relief NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS TO SUBSCRIBE 1800 623 214 that the building and construction If 2020 taught me anything, it was Australia 03 9542 9000 New Zealand +61 3 9542 9000 industry is, and always will be, the importance of spending more Fax (with credit card details) 03 9542 9090 considered an essential service. time outdoors and enjoying Mother While many unfortunately lost their Nature and as a result, I’m leaving jobs and the likes of apprenticeship my post as editor at Lanella Media numbers dropped, we’re looking on and jumping back into the fi shing and www.facebook.com/tradieconnection course to bounce back rather quickly outdoor industry. when compared to other industries. With that being said, I’d like to www.linkedin.com/in/electrical-connection/ To those small businesses that introduce your new editor, Sean weathered the storm of uncertainty Carroll. Sean’s been with us for a www.twitter.com/ElectricCXNMag and adapted on the go, we salute your couple of years now and has proven tenacity and resilience and think it’s to be abit of a young gun, so the By mail, please write to the address below something to be extremely proud of. publication will be left in good hands PUBLISHED BY: And to those who didn’t fare as well, and a fresh perspective. Lanella Media Pty Ltd or lost their jobs and businesses, our If you’d like to get in touch 2/18-22 Lexia Place, Mulgrave, VIC 3170 hearts go out to you and we wish you with Sean, he can be reached at AUSTRALIA the very best this year and into the [email protected]. ISSN 1839-2288 future. Stay brave, remain focussed Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this magazine do and don’t be afraid to reach out and not necessarily refl ect those of the publisher. Although ask for help! all materials are checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any losses due to the use From our industry’s perspective, Enjoy the read of material in this magazine. Copyright 2021 by Lanella Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication one can’t help but be bombarded may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or by terms such as renewable, transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) sustainability and alternative energy Justin Felix without the prior permission of Lanella Media. 6 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Autumn 2021 Robust Portable Label Printers For industry leading contractor grade labelling on the go Combining best in class print technology with industry leading labelling and software capabilities Panduit has entered into a strategic partnership with Seiko Epson Corporation to jointly develop printer and labels for the industrial, construction and network infrastructure markets. The results of the partnership are printers with best-in-class print quality, speed, capabilities HUKSHILSZLSLJ[PVU0KLHSMVYKH[HÄIYLHUKLSLJ[YPJHSJHISLZ[OL47HUK47WVY[HISL SHILSWYPU[LYZHYL[OLÄYZ[VMTHU`WYVK\J[Z[VILQVPU[S`KL]LSVWLK[OYV\NO[OPZWHY[ULYZOPW Scan to Pre-order NOW YLJLP]LHZWLJPHSVɈLY Secure your best in class print technology, exclusively through Panduit Australia. For more information: Phone 1 800 PANDUIT or visit panduit.com PORTABLE LABEL PRINTER PARTNER INDUSTRY NEWS HOW TO ‘SCAVENGE’ POWER FROM H2U EYRE PENINSULA GATEWAY region to power the electrolyser which OUR SURROUNDINGS HYDROGEN PROJECT: THE WORLD’S splits water into hydrogen and oxygen Researchers at Flinders University, LARGEST GREEN AMMONIA PLANT gas. A further process using nitrogen South Australia are looking at ways The H2U Eyre Peninsula Gateway is used to make green ammonia. to scavenge invisible power from Hydrogen Project has received a It will also boast two 16MW open low-frequency vibrations in the boost from the South Australian cycle gas turbines operating 100% surrounding environments, including government, helping it become the on hydrogen at the site to provide wind, air or static electricity. world’s largest green ammonia plant. electricity generation to the grid It aims to create an energy It will include the installation of a during periods of low wind or solar source that doesn’t need a wireless 75MW electrolyser near the regional output. or mains power source with city of Whyalla which is capable of “[The project] offers the opportunity applications like a pacemaker that can producing enough hydrogen to create to export South Australia’s abundant work with inbuilt organic sources in 40,000 tonnes of ammonia yearly. solar and wind resources to support the human body. With the recent round of funding deep decarbonisation in the global “These so-called triboelectric collecting $37 million, the project will energy, industrial and shipping nanogenerators (or ‘TENGs’) can upgrade the nearby Port Bonython sectors,” H2U chief executive Dr Attilio be made at low cost in different jetty as part of the plan to become Pigneri says.