ABB wins Pelican Point control system upgrade contract

ABB has won a contract from ENGIE Australia to modernise the distributed control system at Pelican Point Power Station, a gas-fired plant that supplies about half of South Australia's annual thermal power generation.

The work will upgrade the station's existing Advant controllers to ABB's AC 800M controller for one gas turbine and the steam turbine. The project is intended to strengthen cyber security, improve real-time monitoring and retain existing functions at the site.

Pelican Point is a combined-cycle gas turbine plant on the Lefevre Peninsula, about 20km north-west of central Adelaide. The station has two gas turbines and one steam turbine, with a maximum generation capacity of 532MW.

The facility is an important part of South Australia's electricity system, supplying power across the state, including Adelaide. Its role in thermal generation gives the control system upgrade wider significance as operators seek to maintain output from existing assets.

System upgrade

The project builds on an existing service relationship at Pelican Point under a long-running care agreement. ABB has provided maintenance and technical support at the plant and has worked on the site's critical systems since 2019.

For ENGIE Australia, the contract centres on updating automation infrastructure at a plant that remains a key source of dispatchable generation. Control systems in gas-fired stations manage and monitor core operating processes, so upgrades can improve plant reliability as well as equipment oversight.

Operators across the power sector have been investing in modernisation programs as electricity demand rises and ageing infrastructure requires attention. In Australia, the Australian Energy Market Operator projects electricity consumption to increase from about 180TWh to around 210-230TWh by 2030.

That trend has increased pressure on generators to keep existing plants available as the wider energy mix changes. For thermal assets, control system upgrades can extend operating life and reduce the risk of disruptions linked to older technology.

Industry context

The contract also reflects growing attention to cyber security in industrial settings. Power stations and other critical infrastructure operators have been reviewing control architecture as digital threats increase and regulators place greater emphasis on resilience.

Real-time monitoring is another focus for plant operators, particularly where performance data can help identify faults earlier and support maintenance planning. At stations such as Pelican Point, this can affect both short-term plant availability and longer-term asset management.

Pelican Point Power Station DCS Engineer Tanvir Momin said the plant played a key role in supporting South Australia's energy supply and that the modernisation reflected its commitment to maintaining strong operational performance and preparing for future demand.

Momin said the collaboration with ABB was delivering stronger efficiency, reliability and long-term asset value, while positioning the station for sustained performance in a changing energy landscape.

ABB's Australian Energy Industries business described the contract as part of a broader need to keep electricity supply stable as demand grows.

Aaron Trueman, Vice President of ABB's Energy Industries Division in Australia, said modernising control systems was essential to maintaining the stable, reliable power supply that communities and industries depend on.

Trueman said ABB's expertise and partnership approach would help Pelican Point Power Station enhance performance, improve efficiency and strengthen long-term resilience.