Birdwood Downs Company is an environmental demonstration project for sustainable pasture regeneration and maintenance. A stud herd of 50 cattle and a herd of 20 horses graze the pasture. The production of fruits and vegetables is part of the operation, for which irrigation is an essential requirement. Water for irrigation, cattle and the household of the station comes from two bores with electrical pumps.
Birdwood Downs Company generates its own electricity with a solar power station with a generator as backup. During the wet season, there are often heavy electrical storms which are a serious hazard to the underground power cables and the electronics and solar panels of the power station. After two successive lightning strikes with considerable damage the lightning protection was substantially improved. LDU was selected as partner for this improvement. The consultants of LDU made a proposal for a three layer protection, consisting of a lightning diverter on a mast on the water tower near the power station, surge filters on all underground cables and filters to protect the batteries in the solar power station. They advised on the third layer of commercially available surge protectors between the power sockets and electronic equipment in the office and homestead. The proposal of LDU was implemented successfully and has already proven its function in the wet season of 2013/2014.
Hans Leenaarts
Director
Birdwood Downs Company Pty Ltd
