The Loy Yang B (LYB) project stands as a benchmark in collaborative engineering delivery, achieved through close partnership between ABB, LYB, and CJ Pearce.
Loy Yang B Power Station operates two coal-fired units providing critical baseload capacity to Victoria’s electricity grid. Unit 1’s Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) had reached end of life, with the original Hitachi system unsupported and spare parts unavailable, presenting significant asset risk.
Following a technical review and competitive tender process ABB’s Unitrol AVR system was selected as the replacement. The Unitrol platform is widely recognised as the industry standard in Australia, with CJ Pearce (CJP) having extensive experience delivering similar installations nationally.
The project involved full replacement of the excitation system, including three ~8-tonne single-phase excitation transformers, power cubicle, and control room equipment. Works were delivered within a constrained 18–20 day outage, with a critical 12-day window allocated to CJP to enable ABB commissioning prior to energisation.
The outage was executed concurrently with a major site shutdown involving over 500 personnel. The upgrade was essential to maintaining Loy Yang B’s ability to meet AEMO dispatch requirements and support grid stability amid increasing integration of renewable generation.
