RelyOn Australia - High Voltage Training & Consulting to Power & Utilities

training & advisory video

Training

Short & Public courses, qualifications and eLearning

Engineering Consultancy

For Procedures, Audits, Calculations & Instructions

Cert III in ESI Apprenticeship

Dates announced for Cert III in ESI Apprenticeship for 2025

We service the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) Sectors that generate, transmit, distribute and use electricity.

training & advisory video

Specialists in electrical training services for skills, safety and compliance

Cert III in ESI Apprenticeship

Dates announced for Cert III in ESI Apprenticeship for 2025

Training

Short & Public courses, qualifications and eLearning

Engineering Consultancy

For Procedures, Audits, Calculations & Instructions

Latest News ▶ Join Our Team ▶ LinkedIn ▶

Case Studies

Protection Study for Incident Energy Mitigation

Background & Challenge
Following an IEEE 1584-based arc flash assessment conducted at NovaSource’s utility-scale solar site, high incident energy (I.E.) values were identified on the LV side of inverter transformers—particularly in areas protected by legacy HV fuses. These slow-clearing devices contributed to elevated I.E. levels beyond safe working thresholds.NovaSource sought a technical solution to reduce the risk to site personnel without undertaking extensive hardware upgrades. The LV cubicles, provided by SMA, were confirmed to comply with IEC 62109-1 and IEC 60664-1. However, RelyOn advised that compliance with AS/NZS 61439:2021 (now mandated under AS/NZS 3000) should also be verified to align with Australian regulatory requirements.
Scope of Work
RelyOn Australia was engaged to review the protection configuration and propose mitigation options through a protection-focused lens. Our work included:

Evaluation of LV cubicle insulation coordination and construction standards
Clarification of applicable design standards: IEC 62109-1, IEC 60664-1, AS/NZS 61439
Assessment of fault clearing time implications on arc flash energy
Modelling of fault current limiting device (FCL) integration within ETAP
Guidance on relay coordination improvement strategies
High-level review of manufacturer data and integration feasibility

Key Recommendations

Replace HV Fuses with High-Speed Circuit Breakers

Introduced CBs with faster clearing times and adjustable protection curves to lower arc duration
Improved protection selectivity and compliance with modern design principles

Implement Fault Current Limiters (FCLs)

Modelled fault current limiting upstream of LV cubicles to reduce prospective fault current
Reduced I.E. without requiring relay or breaker changes

Integrate Arc Flash Detection Systems

Advised consideration of optical arc flash sensors to achieve sub-cycle clearing times when paired with fast-acting relays

Verify Compliance with AS/NZS 61439

While the LV cubicle was built to IEC standards, RelyOn highlighted the requirement for AS/NZS 61439 compliance under AS/NZS 3000
Advised checking form of separation within cubicles and its influence on arc containment and mitigation

Deliverables

LV Cubicle Compliance & Risk Memo: Highlighting current standards and suggested validation steps
Incident Energy Mitigation Options Report: With comparative analysis of fuses, circuit breakers, FCLs, and arc flash sensors
ETAP Modelling Outputs: Estimated reductions in I.E. under each proposed method
Site Advisory & Manufacturer Liaison Guidance: Assisted client in engaging with SMA to obtain relevant documentation for further validation

Results & Client Benefit

Enabled a multi-path mitigation roadmap for reducing I.E. from >12 cal/cm² to below 8 cal/cm²
Highlighted regulatory gaps in cubicle design for future procurement
Empowered the client with cost-effective and staged upgrade options
Strengthened compliance position under AS/NZS 61439 and AS/NZS 3000
Supported risk mitigation strategy with a clear technical basis and forward implementation plan

Project Details

Client: NovaSource
Location: Utility-Scale Solar Facility, Australia
Project Type: Arc Flash Follow-On Study and Protection System Enhancement Options
Completion Date: December 2024
Prepared By: RelyOn Australia

eBoP Maintenance for Ararat Wind Farm

Scope of Work

Contract Documentation Review: Identified all maintenance obligations in the EPC and O&M contracts for Ararat.
Maintenance Schedule Development:

Monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks mapped out through to year 15.
Integrated regulatory checks (AS/NZS 3000, ESA 1998).

Implementation Support:

Provided a 2-year “look-ahead” for near-term outages (e.g., 2024).
Coordinated tasks left incomplete from earlier scheduled maintenance.

Key Deliveries

Comprehensive Maintenance Register: Summarized frequencies and tasks (switchgear checks, transformer DGA, protective relay testing, etc.).
Standards Alignment: Confirmed compliance with local legislative requirements and best-practice guidelines (AS/NZS, IEEE).
Risk & Liability Clarification: Outlined disclaimers regarding the limitations of maintenance reviews, emphasizing the need for site-based QA/QC.
Ongoing Data Review & Updates: Recommended periodic condition monitoring (e.g., partial discharge, advanced transformer diagnostics) to refine intervals.

Results and Benefits

Improved Reliability: Reduced potential for unplanned outages and extended equipment lifespan.
Regulatory Compliance: Clearly documented processes that satisfy complex electrical installation obligations under Victorian regulations.
Forward-Looking Plan: 15-year roadmap aligns with both contract obligations and operational best practices.

Project Details

Client: GE (in partnership with Ararat Wind Farm)
Objective: Established a 15-year maintenance schedule for the electrical Balance of Plant (eBoP), ensuring ongoing compliance and reliability.
Prepared By: RelyOn Australia

Metro Trains Melbourne Agile course development on electrical safe operations in Rail Tunnels & Level Crossing Removal

Working closely with Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) to develop courseware to educate their workers and contractors in complex and hazardous construction environments.
Background
Victorians are experiencing the building of the largest ever rail infrastructure pipeline, with more than $30 billion invested in metropolitan and regional rail projects.
These projects include the Metro Tunnel which will create a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury in Melbourne’s west to Cranbourne/Pakenham in the south-east, the removal of 75 level crossings across Melbourne, the Geelong Fast Rail which will be enabled through a major investment to the Werribee corridor. Other projects include Melbourne Airport Rail, the Cranbourne Line Upgrade and Regional Rail Revival.
Metro Trains Melbourne staff and Alliance Partners require training to ensure they are competent and skilled to work safety in the rail corridor. RelyOn Australia’s partnership with Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) delivers electrical and hazard management training programs that are developed specifically at the direction of MTM and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
This is an environment where there is a lot of infrastructure work going on. MTM has a big and highly mobile workforce and recognise that training is important for safety and skill development. So MTM needed a training partner that was electrically literate that could work in an agile and collaborative mode to develop short courses and a choice of training delivery modes as needs arise.
Our role
RelyOn Australia develops customised electrical safe access and operator training for the rail infrastructure and project teams in what is an extremely complex and hazardous construction environment. It’s material that is fit for purpose for MTM’s own staff and meets the requirements of their training and authorisation processes. Additionally, it includes development of training and delivery of training courses for the Alliance Partners and contractors to ensure that they are competent and skilled to work safely in the rail corridor.
Some of these courses include HV Operator for Lines, Signals and Substations, Recipient, Applicant, Permit to Work Near, Underground Safety Spotter, and the Rail Corridor Construction induction for Planning and Project Managers.
We found that MTM were spending a lot of their own staff time on upskilling contractors on activities such as how to apply for a permit. So, we worked with them on methods to reduce their own staff time used to educate people on MTM business practices, especially with contractors on how to do business with MTM safely and efficiently.
Working closely as partners, we developed the optimum delivery mode to meet the key messages and learnings that MTM want to convey to their community. These modes include face to face; virtual and self-paced. Some programs requires for practicals, some are short and only require one to two hours, which others require one to two days.

Project Details

Client: Metro Trains Melbourne
Location: Victoria
Industry: Rail and HV Operations
Our Role: Working closely with MTM to develop courseware to educate workers and contractors on electrical safe access and operator training in complex and hazardous construction environments.
Outcome: Ongoing partnership with an electrically literate training organisation for course development for MTM workers on electrical safe operations in rail tunnels and Level Crossing Removal construction.
Related Case Studies:

Yarra Trams - Electrical Safety Rules Education program for staff & contractors
Level Crossing Removal Project - Building courseware to address rail skills shortages in critical infrastructure works

Arc Flash Risk Assessment for Transgrid Substations

Client Background and Problem Statement
Transgrid, a leading energy provider managing a vast network of substations, sought assistance in addressing arc flash hazards present in their low voltage distribution boards connected to the step-down transformers.Recognising that many of their substations carried an elevated risk due to high incident energy (I.E) levels, Transgrid engaged RelyOn Australia to conduct a preliminary arc flash risk assessment to identify the highest risk substations, and develop comprehensive risk mitigation plans.Given the scale of Transgrid’s operations and the inherent safety risks of arc flash incidents, effective and practical risk mitigation strategies were essential.
Scope of Work
The project aimed to evaluate and manage arc flash risks across Transgrid’s substations using the IEE1584 standard for arc flash calculation. RelyOn Australia undertook the following tasks:

Arc Flash Calculations: Conducted incident energy calculations based on IEEE 1584 to assess potential arc flash hazards across different substations.
Risk Assessment by Substation: Identified substations with the highest I.E. values to prioritise mitigation measures.
Risk Mitigation Recommendations: Provided tailored mitigation strategies, including engineering controls, procedural controls, and recommended arc-rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for different risk levels.
Implementation Guidance: Suggested practical procedures for integrating these mitigation measures across substations, ensuring operational feasibility and safety compliance.

Key Deliveries
RelyOn Australia provided the following:

Arc Flash Risk Assessment Report: This detailed report included arc flash risk levels for each substation, categorised based on calculated incident energy and potential exposure risks.
Control Measures and Risk Mitigation Plans: Recommended specific control measures based on each substation’s risk profile, covering aspects such as remote operation, insulation upgrades, optical detection for faster arc flash clearing times, and the use of arc flash blankets for high-risk sites.
Hierarchy of Controls Implementation Plan: A structured plan that prioritised safety measures using a hierarchy of controls to ensure that the most effective controls were adopted where feasible.
Procedures for Field Adoption: Developed clear and actionable procedures to support field personnel in implementing and adhering to new arc flash safety measures effectively.

Results and Benefits

Improved Safety: The risk assessment and tailored mitigation strategies significantly improved the safety profile of Transgrid’s substations, particularly at high-risk sites, by reducing the potential impact of arc flash incidents.
Compliance and Standardisation: Transgrid’s LV DBs were now managed in line with IEEE 1584, ensuring compliance with industry standards and fostering a consistent safety approach across multiple sites.
Operational Efficiency: Through remote operation recommendations and advanced detection systems, RelyOn’s solutions minimised the need for direct interaction with high-risk equipment, improving overall efficiency and reducing operational downtime.
Enhanced Safety Culture: By providing field staff with training and clearly defined procedures, the project promoted a proactive safety culture within Transgrid’s operations.

How We Can Help You

Full-Service Arc Flash Consultation: From initial studies to training and ongoing compliance.
Regulatory Guidance: Stay aligned with local and national standards, including Victoria’s Bluebook and ESV guidelines.
Site-Specific Solutions: Customised approach for unique operational challenges and risk profiles.
Long-Term Partnerships: Ongoing support to maintain up-to-date compliance and safety best practices.

Project Details

Client: Transgrid
Location: Multiple Substations Across New South Wales, Australia
Industry: Electricity Generation Industry
Date of Completion: August 2023
Prepared By: RelyOn Australia

Rail Network Electrical Safety Audit

Background
Suburban rail networks are complex. They often contain a mix of different technologies and many significant hazards. Staff working on or around these networks need clear and detailed but practical safety rules, procedures and accountabilities in order to work safely and do their jobs well.
Our Client operates an electrified rail network for suburban passenger services. As part of its ongoing risk assessment, the network's leadership team sought an external audit of the electrical risks to the business.
Our Role
The review, conducted by our experienced electrical engineers, used an audit methodology and included extensive interviews with key stakeholders within the organisation along with an analysis of key documents such as the Client's High and Low Voltage Electrical Safety Rules, Health and Safety Policy and Procedures, Risk Assessments, the organisational structure and position descriptions relevant to electrical work.
After concluding the data collection and analysis, RelyOn Australia developed a report presenting a clear, detailed and benchmarked view of the processes and systems keeping workers safe around the significant electrical hazards of the network. This report combined the detailed data gathering of the review with RelyOn Australia's decades of High Voltage experience to identify where best or leading practice was being applied, where the key risks were, and where priorities for improvement of the system should be. This report was presented to senior managers within the client organisation who accepted all findings and recommendations and responded swiftly to implement changes.
While the findings were on balance positive, and it was recognised that the network had procedures in place for the safe access to its electrical network that were compliant with relevant regulations and standards, a key finding was that many key procedures were written in a manner which assumed a linear process which did not always adequately deal with deviation or issues that arise from real world situations. Also, the organisational structure and its roles were ambiguous in respect to responsibility for the electrical network and open to interpretation.Changes implemented on the basis of the report include the appointment of a senior manager to the role of Operating Authority, and a clear line of delegation to appropriately trained staff. The Electrical Safety Manual was also re-formatted to ensure that the responsibilities outlined were clear and matched the intended work processes.

Project Details

Client: Rail Network owner
Industry: Rail
Our role: A health check of electrical risks to a transport network
Outcome: A positive report card and the opportunity to refine and clarrify roles of responsibility and delegation

Home

Case Studies