In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, reliable and efficient electrical networks are the backbone of mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure operations. At Nettlefold Projects, we specialize in providing detailed Power System Studies to help clients across Australia design, optimize, and operate electrical systems that meet regulatory standards, improve operational efficiency, and ensure the safety of personnel and assets.
What is a Power System Study?
A Power System Study is a comprehensive engineering assessment of how an electrical network behaves under various operating conditions. It provides critical insights into the performance, reliability, and safety of electrical systems, from low voltage distribution networks to high voltage transmission and sub-transmission systems.
For complex industrial facilities, a Power System Study is essential for:
- Predicting voltage profiles
- Calculating fault levels
- Optimizing equipment sizing
- Setting protection devices correctly
- Ensuring safe operation for maintenance teams
- Planning for future load growth and expansion
Types of Power System Studies Conducted by Nettlefold Projects
At Nettlefold Projects, our chartered electrical engineers and power systems specialists undertake a wide range of power system studies tailored to meet the unique requirements of each project.
Load Flow Analysis
Load Flow Analysis, also known as Power Flow Study, is performed to assess voltage levels, power losses, transformer loadings, and system stability across the network. This analysis is critical during the design stage to ensure that equipment sizing is appropriate and that voltage regulation remains within acceptable limits under varying load conditions.
Short Circuit Analysis
Short Circuit Studies identify the prospective fault currents at different points within the network. This ensures that all circuit breakers, relays, current transformers (CTs), and other protective devices are adequately rated to withstand and interrupt fault conditions as per Australian Standards (AS 2067 and AS/NZS 7000).
Protection Coordination and Grading Studies
An improperly coordinated protection system can lead to unnecessary outages, equipment damage, or even catastrophic failures. Nettlefold Projects performs detailed Protection Coordination Studies to ensure that protective devices operate selectively and in the correct sequence, isolating faults without affecting upstream or downstream equipment unnecessarily.
Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
Arc flash incidents pose a significant risk to personnel working on or near live electrical equipment. Using software tools such as ETAP and PowerFactory, we conduct Arc Flash Hazard Assessments in line with NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 standards. This study calculates incident energy levels and determines appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) categories for various equipment locations.
Harmonic Analysis and Power Quality Assessments
With the increasing use of variable speed drives (VSDs), inverters, and other non-linear loads, power quality has become a critical concern for many operations. Harmonic studies help identify potential resonance issues, voltage distortions, and compliance risks with standards such as IEEE 519. Nettlefold Projects provides mitigation strategies like filter design and network tuning to maintain system stability and equipment longevity.
Applications Across Mining, Energy, and Infrastructure
Our clients operate in some of Australia’s most demanding environments. From remote mining operations in the Pilbara to large-scale manufacturing plants and infrastructure projects along the East Coast, we deliver power system studies that are site-specific and operationally practical.
Some typical applications include:
- New mine site developments requiring end-to-end network studies
- Grid connection studies for embedded generation and battery energy storage systems (BESS)
- Electrical infrastructure upgrades and brownfield site expansions
- Load growth assessments for industrial manufacturing plants
- Network reconfiguration studies to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs
Compliance with Australian and International Standards
At Nettlefold Projects, all Power System Studies are carried out in strict accordance with relevant standards and regulatory requirements, including:
- AS/NZS 3000 – Wiring Rules
- AS 2067 – Substations and High Voltage Installations
- AS/NZS 7000 – Overhead Line Design
- IEEE 1584 – Arc Flash Calculations
- NFPA 70E – Electrical Safety in the Workplace
- National Electricity Rules (NER) – For grid-connected systems
Integration with Net Zero and Decarbonization Initiatives
As the industry moves toward Net Zero targets, more mining and industrial clients are integrating renewables, battery storage, and hybrid power systems into their operations. Nettlefold Projects conducts power system impact studies to ensure that these new assets integrate safely and effectively with existing networks, without compromising grid stability or violating utility compliance standards.
Our power system studies are a crucial step for clients seeking approval for new connections, both at the transmission and distribution levels.
Why Choose Nettlefold Projects?
Our multidisciplinary team brings decades of experience across electrical design, power system modelling, site-based commissioning, and operational troubleshooting. Unlike many firms, we combine field experience with deep analytical expertise, ensuring that our recommendations are not only technically sound but also practically implementable on site.
We use state-of-the-art software tools like ETAP, PowerFactory, and SKM Power Tools for network modeling and analysis, ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Additionally, we pride ourselves on working collaboratively with client engineering teams, contractors, and regulatory bodies to deliver end-to-end support from design through to commissioning and ongoing operational optimization.
Contact Us
If your project involves high-voltage infrastructure, embedded generation, load expansions, or simply needs a compliance-focused review of your existing electrical system, Nettlefold Projects is ready to assist.
We deliver power system studies that keep your operations running safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
Contact us today to speak with our engineering team about your project requirements.
