SA Power Networks Environmental Management

Transcription

1 SA Power Networks Environmental Management

2 Contents Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Initiatives 2 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management 3 A Green approach to Substation Audits 4 In-house Environmental Advisory Services 5 Site (Land) Contamination 5 Environmental Incident Response 5 Overview Environmental management is core business for SA Power Networks. We recognise that our activities may have an impact on the environment, whether in the field or office, and we strive to minimise this where possible. To do this, we provide our workforce with the skills, knowledge and resources to protect and improve the environment in which we operate. We aim to promote a culture of innovation and be a leader in environmental responsibility. Like many major organisations, SA Power Networks has in place a comprehensive structure to manage its impact on the environment, including a robust Environmental Management System in line with ISO14001, the industry benchmark. We also actively engage with environmental regulators and the community to improve our processes and implement a range of initiatives, several of which are described in this brochure. SA POWER NETWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 1

3 Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Initiatives We're supporting new energy efficient technologies like battery storage and electric vehicles Climate change impacts are a potentially significant issue for our business to monitor and manage. We are carefully evaluating the potential future impacts of a carbon constrained economy on our business, and the impact of our business on the environment. Our Environmental and Climate Change Policies available via our corporate website outline our commitment to reducing our corporate environmental footprint. Every year we report our greenhouse gas emissions via the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS), and as a business we do what we can to reduce our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. We try to minimise the electricity and gas used in our offices, depots and industrial facilities, and the fuel used by our vehicles. SA Power Networks also invests in and investigates ways to use renewable energy and other technologies like battery storage to help our organisation and our customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are also active in the broader environmental sustainability space, with initiatives that aim to help us to move beyond basic compliance towards best practice. For example, over recent years numerous energy, waste and water efficiency initiatives across the organisation have been implemented. Projects have resulted in the reduction of electricity consumption at our Keswick head office by 20%, the inclusion of sustainability principles into property construction projects, and a significant reduction of waste being disposed of at landfill. Improved recycling and resource recovery systems have greatly increased the organisation s recycling rate. Annually an estimated 66% of solid waste is now sent for energy recovery, 24% for recycling and only 10% is sent to landfill a huge improvement on the 92% sent to landfill in Our overall landfill diversion rate, across all sites and including other bulk/salvage waste materials, is approximately 77%. With the aim to increase environmentally and socially beneficial procurement decisions, SA Power Networks continues to implement initiatives as part of our Sustainable Procurement Action Plan. Environmental Management and Sustainability information has been incorporated into the Procurement Directive and Conditions of Tender, with work currently focussed on improving the environmental risk assessment process and incorporating environmental criteria into key contracts. We've made a significant reduction in landfill waste from our offices % recycled 92% landfill 66% energy recovery 24% recycled 10% landfill 77% landfill diversion rate for all office and operational sites SA POWER NETWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2

4 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management SA Power Networks has a responsibility to plan, construct and operate facilities to minimise the impacts on natural or cultural heritage elements including Aboriginal, European, natural and industrial sites or places. Aboriginal heritage sites demonstrate Aboriginal use of the land, history, culture and religious traditions and provide an important link with traditional cultural heritage. To ensure that we do not inadvertently disturb any site of significance, SA Power Networks undertakes desktop research, engages archaeologists and anthropologists, and works with local Aboriginal Traditional Owner groups. We also have in place comprehensive procedures and work instructions in the event that an artefact or site of significance is discovered. A recent example illustrating SA Power Networks engagement with Traditional Owners was the design and construction of a new 33kV exit at the Davenport West Distribution Substation for Sundrop Farms near Port Augusta (pictured). The Port Augusta region has a rich history of Aboriginal occupation and therefore works in this area are all considered to have a risk of impacting on culturally sensitive areas, registered sites or significant anthropological elements. In 2015, Sundrop Farms began the process of significantly expanding its current operations and required a new connection to the Davenport West Distribution Substation. This power connection was critical to their expansion plans and was important in this regional hub in terms of much needed economic development and jobs growth. SA Power Networks engaged the local Traditional Owner groups (the Nukunu) to discuss the planned construction activities. Records show that the substation has registered sites within close proximity, and the design for the feeder exits was going to directly impact on the Nukunu registered sites. After consultation with the Government's Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation unit, a specialist archaeologist and the Nukunu, SA Power Networks changed the feeder exit route and redesigned the planned power line to avoid the sites. Despite redesign, trenching was still required in an area that was deemed to be a high risk for uncovering heritage artefacts. We established a Monitoring Agreement with the Nukunu to ensure that any artefacts uncovered were handled appropriately and did not impact tight construction schedules. The site works went smoothly and SA Power Networks has developed a strong relationship with the Nukunu, and looks forward to working with them again in the future. We engaged the Nukunu (traditional owners) to redesign the Davenport West feeder exit lines and avoid heritage sites SA POWER NETWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 3

5 Managing Oil Filled Assets Substation Audits Oil is an essential component in the electricity system. It is used in equipment such as high voltage transformers and other electrical items like insulators. SA Power Networks owns and operates tens of thousands of oil-filled assets, including large transformers in 404 substations across South Australia. All of our assets are regularly audited against safety, asset condition and environmental criteria. Medium to high risk sites have bunding (a type of impervious wall) installed around transformers for oil containment Substation environmental audits are designed to help prioritise the scheduling of oil containment works to be carried out. The audits assist in risk rating and prioritising the oil containment program starting with the highest risk sites. We conduct 50 to 70 audits per year and monitor and assess the risk status of each of the organisation s substation sites. Many of our substations are more than 40, 50 or even 60 years old, they were often built on sites that were fairly isolated at the time. In the past 15 or 20 years residential and commercial development has seen rapid growth around many of these substations, often right up to the boundary fence. In these situations, the risk profile may have changed, particularly if the substation now borders a wetland or conservation area. It s the Environment Branch s responsibility to rate this risk, according to criteria set by our oil containment management plan, current legislation and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). We carefully consider factors such as proximity to natural or artificial watercourses, the depth of the ground water and the presence of neighbouring properties with horticultural crops or other sensitive land uses. If a site is identified as medium to high risk, the site is included in the oil containment program and for the installation of oil containment on site such as bunding around transformers or the installation of an oil-water separation system. The audit process also checks for any PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) contamination from old transformers and circuit breakers. PCB was a widely used additive in transformer oil during the mid-20th Century for its insulating and fire retardant properties, before it was found to be carcinogenic and subsequently banned worldwide. SA Power Networks is committed to a program of reducing or removing PCB contamination in its assets, and to meet the ANZECC PCB Management Plan that stipulates a volume of PCB contamination in electrical assets of no more than two parts per million. SA POWER NETWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 4

6 In-house Environmental Advisory Services SA Power Networks Environment Branch provides up-todate practical advice and assistance on a wide range of environmentally related topics to our Customer Relations team and staff working in the field. The range of issues and concerns for which members of the community, field staff and project managers need support can include native vegetation, Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF), bio-security (eg pest plants and animals), biodiversity conservation, contaminated soil, Aboriginal and cultural heritage, noise/vibration, and bird or animal activity. Site (Land) Contamination SA Power Networks has significant land holdings at locations throughout South Australia. Some of this land may be contaminated by wastes from previous usage of the land, or as a result of current or past SA Power Networks operations. We have an ongoing program of assessment and remediation of historical and incident related contamination of depot sites, substations and other sites in line with SA EPA requirements. Environmental Incident Response Sometimes incidents occur that have the potential to cause environmental harm. SA Power Networks has a robust process in place to respond rapidly to and manage environmental incidents. Our 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) is alerted when an incident occurs that has caused, or has the potential to cause, harm or damage to the environment. The NOC will dispatch our emergency response contractor to contain any oil spills with a focus on protecting water catchment areas. Also, our field staff and project managers are trained to respond to and manage other environmental incidents should they occur. SA POWER NETWORKS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 5