The diesel power station designed and built by Cummins in the Adelaide suburb of Lonsdale has won an award for environmental excellence.

The Institution of Engineers Australia gave the 20MW peaking plant a special commendation, highlighting the work done by Cummins and consultants, SDA Engineering, in meeting tough environmental standards.

Emissions from the power station are significantly below ground level oxides of nitrogen (NOx) requirements proposed in the National Environmental Protection Measures for 2008.

These low emissions are achieved using selective catalytic reduction technology. The power station, which features 18 50-litre Cummins diesel engines, is 80% quieter than current statutory requirements for noise pollution.

Each of the 18 generator sets is containerised with integrated bunding to prevent any fuel, oil or coolant spillage to the environment.

The plant is unmanned and its sophisticated control system allows the 18 generators to be started automatically on demand, within one minute, from anywhere in Australia.