News

Safearth to present the Keynote at High Voltage Conference in Melbourne

Safearth are all set to present the keynote and a technical workshop at the upcoming High Voltage Conference in Melbourne on September 28th & 29th 2022.

The conference will cover the AS 2067: 2016 HV standard which provides minimum requirements for the design and installation of high voltages above 1kV (ac) so as to provide safe functioning in operation and will focus on earthing, design, testing, installation and maintenance topics.

KEYNOTE: International Update – An update on Grounding Design and Testing Standards Directions and Changes around the World

In many countries, including the Americas, asset owners and designers rely on the guidance of IEEE standards including Std 80, 81, 837, 1246 & 1268, for most aspects of substation earthing. However, there are a number of other international earthing documents with international significance. Documents such as IEC 61936 and EN 50522 are relied on extensively, but these are all heading for further change. Of significance is the growing value placed on measurement of actual performance rather than traditional reliance on estimates using complex tools and limited models. This presentation will summarise the most significant changes of recent history and the directions that are being signalled for current and future revisions. Consideration of a number of possibilities will be provided along with a discussion of the possible consequences of following or not following these international directions.

WORKSHOP: Earthing obligations under AS2067 have changed: What has changed, why, and what do you need to do next

The much-anticipated revision to AS 2067 was published in September 2016. This standard is the primary standard for HV earthing system design and earthing system management and it includes significant changes, particularly the development of more transparent and site-specific risk-based safety criteria, enabling more effective assessment and management of earthing-related risk. This workshop will review the key understanding, principles and issues foundational to earthing, present the AS 2067 requirements and recommendations, explain the reasoning behind the changes, and provide guidance on how asset owners, designers, testers and inspectors should seek to maximise their compliance and derived benefits. It will also examine how these changes are being seen internationally and what may come with future changes to IEC 61936 and AS 2067. This afternoon workshop will include explanation of case studies and the opportunity to present and discuss attendees’ own cases.

Stephen Palmer

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Stephen Palmer is Director of Safearth, Australia’s leading earthing specialists. Stephen has expertise in all areas related to earthing, including design, audit and test in sectors including power generation and delivery, heavy industry, mining and rail. For over 20 years Stephen has investigated and managed the risks associated with earthing, lightning protection and interference. As the leader of an international team of 40 consultants & researchers, his experience extends well beyond his personal practice. He has been a contributing member on the committees responsible for Australian documents including EG-0, AS/NZS 3007 and AS 2067. He is a committee member for IEEE Std80, Std81 and Std998. He is Convenor of the International CIGRE Working Group B3.54 on earthing system testing and was the secretary of the CIGRE & CIRED Joint Working Group B3.35, which has published TB 749 on substation earthing design optimisation including quantified risk.

Stephen has delivered formal earthing training for more than a decade and has presented at numerous Australian and international conferences including for the NSW Government, Energy Networks Association (ENA), Engineers Australia, CIRED, CIGRE and the IEEE.

Other conference presentations & topics include:

  • Case Studies: Defects identified within high voltage switchgear and cables via online Partial Discharge testing
  • Maximising the Success of Predictive High Voltage Maintenance
  • Transformers – Natural Ester-Retro-filling, Oil testing & Management
  • Partial Discharge Testing on Rotatory Machines
  • Life Management of Power Transformers – Synthetic Ester Retro-filling
  • Wow, I Got To Audit a Wind Farm
  • Off and ON-line Acceptance Testing and Diagnostic testing of Distribution Cables
  • Implementing partial discharge testing & monitoring technology: Real world case studies
  • Practical Case Study: Waverley Park 220kV Transmission Line
  • Arc Flash Hazards in HV Contexts
  • Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) – ElectraNet Case Study
  • Analysis of Earthing Grids in Multilayer Soils at High Frequencies

To view the event brochure click HERE

To register for the conference please visit the event website HERE

We hope to see you at the conference! Register before August 15th and take advantage of the early bird discount.