Overview

The MIST facility is an advanced laboratory worth $6 million built in Cairns, dedicated to power testing, advanced simulation, and training. 

The facility is designed to advance the development and uptake of new technologies for power generation and electricity distribution supply by leveraging state-of-the-art equipment and testing capability. 

The MIST focuses on both grid-connected and off-grid technologies for applications on the fringe of the grid and has a variety of energy resources available, including diesel generators, grid-forming BESS, and solar, as well as a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) and power amplifier. At this local event, we will go through the MIST facility setup and the existing technology projects underway at Ergon Energy to progress decarbonization. 

This includes a demonstration of control hardware in the loop setup to test synchronous generator controllers, as well as various inverter/battery technologies being tested in the facility. 

Please join the Cairns Regional Group of Engineers Australia for an overview and site visit of Energy Queensland's Microgrid and Isolated Systems Test (MIST) Facility.

PPE required:

• Enclosed shoes.

Learning outcomes

1. Learn about MIST facility setup and the existing technology projects for decarbonisation.
2. Learn about microgrids structure and hardware in the loop technology.
3. Networking with the local Cairns engineers.

Event program

• 2:45pm AEST: Arrival and registration
• 3:00pm AEST: Site visit commences
• 5:00pm AEST: Site visit concludes

About the speaker

Alan Louis

Principal Engineer Technology Innovation

Biography

Alan is the Principal Engineer in the New Technology group within Energy Queensland and is the lead engineer of an advanced test laboratory in Cairns called the MIST Facility. His experience relates to integrating DER into the distribution and isolated networks, focusing on the modelling and validation of power converter and energy storage technology alongside traditional network assets. He has expertise in conducting hardware in the loop testing using a real-time simulator and extensive experience in laboratory testing and field trials of technologies for the modern power system.