The Power Resilience Platform is an innovative initiative designed to enhance the resilience of the NSW Telco Authority’s (NSWTA) Public Safety Network (PSN), a critical communications system used by frontline emergency services, government agencies, and essential services across New South Wales. The PSN is one of the largest of its kind globally and is second only to Australia’s triple zero emergency hotline in importance.

This project aims to build on NSWTA’s ongoing Resilience Program, which bolsters PSN reliability by upgrading network infrastructure and deploying mobile assets to safeguard connectivity. By integrating a unified data management platform, the Power Resilience project will provide real-time monitoring of the power supply at individual sites, predictive analytics for potential disruptions, and proactive measures to maintain network functionality, even during emergencies.

The Problem: Power Supply Vulnerabilities During Disasters

Natural disasters and extreme weather events often result in widespread power outages, severely impacting emergency response efforts and essential communication services. The lack of a reliable power supply during these critical moments leads to delayed recovery times, reducing the effectiveness of emergency operations and leaving communities without vital communication links.

Market Gaps: 

Traditional power infrastructure faces significant challenges in supporting critical communication networks, including:

• Vulnerability to extreme weather events, resulting in widespread outages.
• Insufficient backup power options for essential services.
• Slow recovery and power restoration, prolonging the downtime of critical communication networks.

The Solution: Resilient Energy Systems for Critical Communications

The Power Resilience project addresses these challenges by developing resilient, off-grid energy solutions tailored for emergency services and critical communications. Key solutions include:

• Off-grid Renewable Energy Systems: Designed to provide continuous power to PSN sites during grid failures.
• Portable and Scalable Power Units: Allowing emergency services to maintain operations in remote or disaster-affected areas.
• Collaborative Energy Systems: Linking renewable energy sources with battery storage for seamless, uninterrupted power transfer across the network. 

Applications

• Disaster Preparedness: Ensuring reliable communication for emergency responders during natural disasters and other emergencies.
• Remote Area Connectivity: Supporting critical services in remote regions with independent, sustainable power systems.
• Public Safety Networks: Safeguarding the operation of the PSN and ensuring that essential communication services remain active when most needed.

Next Steps

The project is currently in progress, with a focus on validating the performance of renewable energy systems and predictive analytics to ensure the PSN’s resilience in real-world scenarios. The next phase will involve testing and scaling the system for deployment across various regions.