Utility substations designed and constructed with reliability in mind are crucial to the efficient excavation and safe operation of modern road tunnels.
Tunnel boring machines are complex pieces of machinery that require a significant amount of power to operate. Electricity is used to power the main drive motors, which rotate the cutting head and move the TBM forward through the rock or soil. These motors need to deliver substantial torque to cut through the geological formations.
Once the tunnel construction is completed, the utility substations will be repurposed to support the operation of tunnel systems, including lighting, ventilation, fire detection & suppression, voice & data communication system, intelligent transport system, and tunnel evacuation system. Without a dependable electrical supply, tunnels would become hazardous environments with compromised functionality and increased risks to both drivers and emergency responders. Therefore, tunnel systems must be designed with a holistic approach to meet a set target of reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM). The reliability of the power supply is the cornerstone for achieving the RAM target.
Work is underway to construct a dedicated electricity substation at Tonsley to power the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will be used to excavate the southern tunnels.
The substation is being built, and will be owned and operated, by SA Power Networks, with Enerven Energy Infrastructure undertaking the construction works.
It is located on the site of the former Mitsubishi Logistics Control Centre at Tonsley, just off South Road, and forms part of what will be the Southern Laydown Area to support tunnelling operations.
This is the first piece of infrastructure to be constructed for the T2D Project and is essential to prepare us for TBM tunnelling to commence in 2026.
A similar substation will be established to power the northern tunnels.
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