Proactive Load Shedding System
Abstract
This paper describes the Load Shedding System at Mica Creek Power Station located in Mount Isa, North West Queensland.
Prior to 1997 the station was owned by MIM and its capacity of 200 MW was required to supply only MIM and the regional towns of Mt Isa and Cloncurry. To minimise capital investment and operational costs, an intelligent load shedding system was in operation within MIM to permit power station operation without spinning reserve. This maintained system stability during contingencies by shedding selectable non-critical loads as required.
Since 1997 the station has been converted to natural gas and expanded to supply the increased demand within Mt Isa and also to meet the substantial growth occurring in the North-West Minerals Province. Apart from Mount Isa Mines, the station now also supplies Ernest Henry Mine, Gunpowder Copper and Pasminco Century. Station capacity has been increased to 330MW and it remains isolated from the Queensland grid. To minimise the cost of power, the zero spinning reserve philosophy was to be retained with all Offtakers contributing suitable shedable loads within their own operations.
The station is now owned and operated by CS Energy.
This paper discusses the development and extension of the load shed system to include the new mining customers added since 1996 and also to adjust to the change in ownership and operational responsibility of the station.
Technical, operational and economic benefit details are discussed.