From Brisbane to the rest of the world, NOJA Power is rewriting the rules of reliability.
As Australia continues to rewire its energy systems for a more sustainable future, the demand for safe, dependable switchgear across the medium-voltage network has never been greater.
Responding to the needs of Australia’s electricity sector is nothing new for Brisbane-based manufacturer NOJA Power. In fact, it’s business as usual.
The company’s latest innovation, the EcoLink, provides a practical solution for a longstanding industry challenge: delivering reliable recloser functionality on low network currents, particularly in regional and remote areas where reliability is a common concern.
The EcoLink is an innovative fuse-link-mounted recloser designed to operate with as little as 0.15A of primary current. The fully self-powered uses supercapacitor technology, removing the need for batteries and reducing maintenance and environmental risk.
Designed as a direct replacement for traditional fuses, the EcoLink is easily retrofitted to most legacy fuse holders, making it a flexible solution for utilities looking to improve reliability on existing infrastructure.
What sets the EcoLink apart is its response time. The device is configured to interrupt faults in the same time as a conventional fuse, bringing a new level of reliability to even the most rural and remote distribution lines.
Importantly, the EcoLink places safety at the forefront of its design. A patented breaker interlock handle ensures the line current is interrupted with the internal vacuum interrupter before the device can be disconnected. This mechanism prevents external arcing, protecting equipment and operators.
As regional networks take on a larger share of the energy transition, the EcoLink is set to play a critical role in keeping infrastructure reliable and field crews safe, replacing legacy technologies that were not created for the modern energy system.
Home-grown ingenuity
Designed and manufactured at NOJA Power’s Brisbane headquarters, the EcoLink stands as a prime example of Australian innovation solving energy challenges across the distribution network – all on local soil.
The focus on local manufacturing is central to the company’s ongoing success. While many companies can utilise overseas products or components, NOJA Power has made significant investments in its Brisbane-based production capacity.
The 2023–24 financial year (FY24) saw the company secure an additional 6000m2 of warehouse space at its distribution centre and commission new production lines dedicated to the EcoLink and VISI-SWITCH. This growing capacity allows the EcoLink to be built to stock, rather than made to order, helping to ensure greater efficiency and faster deployment. The innovation was made possible by NOJA Power’s long-term commitment to research and development. Its ISO 17025 accredited test laboratory played a pivotal role in the EcoLink’s development, ensuring it passed all conformance tests early.
NOJA Power hosted an international network of distributors for its biennial Distributor Conference in FY23, with its first production run of EcoLink products sold in that week, underscoring its potential for expansion.
Indeed, with decades of experience in electrical distribution switchgear, NOJA Power has firmly established itself as a trusted partner to utilities in Australia and around the globe, exporting to 114 countries worldwide.
More than just a recloser, NOJA Power’s EcoLink reflects the broader strength of locally-made solutions, and its Brisbane facility demonstrates the power of Australian manufacturing, fuelling reliability across the world.
For more information, visit nojapower.com.au or chat with the team at booth C9 at Australian Energy Week from 18–19 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
