The Austin Hospital HV and Generation project is a testament to Nilsen’s outstanding skills as a tier one contractor. The scope of works was completed three months ahead of schedule in March 2018 which produced large cost and time savings and a much-improved profit.

Nilsen’s scope on the project included:

• Upgrading of the existing LV emergency powerhouse generation system, all done while the hospitals (Austin and Mercy are co-located) remained fully operational
• Decommissioning the HV generation system and installing a new LV generation system for Mental Health, Austin, Mercy, and Austin Central Plant switchboard
• Installation of two new 1500 kVA dry type HV transformers in the Lance Townsend Building (LTB)
• Installation of all new SEPAM relays in the HV system while hospital was still operational
• Redesign to remove the Western substation and reallocate its workload. Due to ageing and faulty equipment we redesigned and relocated all outgoing submains to existing and new switchboards

Working in a live environment, Nilsen solved a diverse array of technical challenges: a long and complex cable pull completed with several innovations; a dangerous problem in the blocking scheme of the SEPAM relays; paralleling of generators; and bus-tying of switchboards to create an MEN link that made the neutral not live. No injuries were recorded on the project.

The project held great responsibility, where all of Nilsen’s work was geared towards ensuring that the complex never lost electrical power. This project has demonstrated the outstanding technical skills, collaborative skills, planning expertise and innovation that Nilsen brings to every project it works on.

Notably, Nilsen were awarded 2018 National Electrical and Communication Association (NECA) Victoria Best Large Commercial project for the Austin Hospital HV and Generation project.

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