News

Nilsen wins 2019 National NECA Award

December 2019

On 21 November the National NECA Awards were held at the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane. Nilsen was nominated in three categories:

• Commercial Small Project Category for the City of Adelaide Off-street Electric Vehicle Charging Project
• Industrial Medium Project Category for the Ross River Solar Farm and Cobdogla Pump Station
• Energy Efficiency and Environment Category for the City of Adelaide Off-street Electric Vehicle
  Charging Project

We are very proud to announce Nilsen took the top honours in the Industrial Medium Project Category, winning the award for the Cobdogla Pump Station in South Australia!

This project involved a complete electrical upgrade for a large pump station located at Cobdogla on the Murray River, 230km from Adelaide. The client, Central Irrigation Trust, through their consultant KBR, engaged Nilsen as the Principal Contractor to execute these works.

The scope included replacing the HV substation, replacing the entire electrical power and control system, replacing 6 x 3.3kV pump motors with LV motors, installation of significant cable support systems as well as switchroom building upgrades. All of this was completed whilst keeping the pump station operational. The pump station supplies water to irrigators in the Cobdogla/Loveday region and without this supply, local livelihoods would be affected.

Whilst this was officially a Contracting project, Nilsen Switchboards produced the boards for this project and our Engineering Services division assisted with testing and commissioning of the HV and LV systems. A true representation of “One Nilsen” coming together!

Nilsen South Australia General Manager Richard Lane accepting the award
for the Cobdogla Pump Station project.

In the same category, Industrial Medium Project, Nilsen were also awarded National Commendation for the Ross River Solar Farm project. Located in the dry topics of Queensland, the 200 hectare Ross River Solar Farm consists of nearly half a million solar panels that produce 300,000 MW per annum - enough to power 54,000 homes.

Nilsen Queensland General Manager Trent McKenzie accepting the commendation
for the Ross River Solar Farm project.

Congratulations to everyone involved on all three outstanding projects, particularly to the Nilsen South Australia team for delivering the national winning Cobdogla project. To be recognised nationally at this level is an amazing achievement!

We now look forward to the 2020 NECA Awards where we plan to showcase more of Nilsen’s fantastic work across the country.