An innovation created in Australia is set to improve reliability of the electricity network and increase safety in high-risk bushfire areas around the world.
The Siemens Remote Control Unit (RCU) works in conjunction with the Siemens Fusesaver which improves electricity network reliability and results in fewer outages and shorter outage times when they do occur.
The product was recently launched at Siemens’ manufacturing facility in Brisbane.
Siemens Business Manager, Brett Watson says that the RCU will increase safety and network security allowing utilities to remotely access power lines to change protection modes during high-risk bushfire times, avoiding callouts during unsafe weather conditions and resources of line crews.
“It’s great to see that our R&D has resulted in the launch of RCU which works in conjunction with Fusesaver which was launched two years ago.
“Fusesaver is the world’s fastest medium voltage vacuum circuit breaker, designed for the harshest weather conditions to improve electricity reliability and increase safety in remote areas around the world, with trials locally and internationally proving its success,” Dr Watson says.
Martin Fleming from Power and Water Corporation, who undertook a trial of the Siemens Fusesaver, says that the results were outstanding.
“We trialed the Siemens Fusesavers in quite a remote and weather exposed area; this meant the benefits of the Fusesaver really stood out for us. One area, that was particularly prone to bats striking the line, went from an average of 60 outages a month to around just one a month,” Fleming says.
Following successful trials in Australia, electricity utilities around the world are now trialing the Siemens Remote Control Unit and the Siemens Fusesaver, with Fusesaver trials in Ireland, Uganda and Kenya already proving successful.