IPD, in partnership with ABB Australia and the Equilibrium Climatech Joint Venture (ECJV), has supplied and commissioned over 130 ABB ACH580-01 Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) for the HVAC systems at the New Sydney Fish Market, a major public infrastructure project at Blackwattle Bay led by Infrastructure NSW.
Project Scope and Sustainability Goals
The redevelopment aims to deliver world-class seafood retail and dining experiences, community spaces, and improved public access to the harbour. To meet environmental and operational objectives, ECJV selected IPD to provide ABB drives that enhance energy efficiency and support emissions reduction. According to Equilibrium, the HVAC solution is designed to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions and reduce energy consumption by between 5 and 30 per cent compared with conventional systems.
Role of ABB ACH580 Drives
The ABB ACH580 drives control chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling tower operations, supply fans, return fans, and exhaust fans. They integrate with the building's central Building Management System (BMS) for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimised control. Features include IP55 protection and embedded EMC filters to simplify installation in demanding plant room environments.
“It's been a privilege to support ECJV on the iconic New Sydney Fish Market project,” said Sattam Rahman, Sales Development at IPD. “Their collaborative approach made it easy to align on goals and deliver ABB HVAC Variable Speed Drives that met the project's unique requirements. We're proud to have played a role in bringing this world-class development to life.”
Energy and Cost Benefits
The value-engineered secondary design is expected to deliver a 5-30 per cent reduction in energy consumption compared with the original CO₂ reference design. Beyond energy savings, the solution contributes to lower operating costs, improved equipment longevity, and enhanced reliability through proactive monitoring.
“We engaged IPD and ABB Australia to supply ABB's Variable Speed Drives on the New Sydney Fish Market project due to their proven product reliability and ability to support a true 24/7 operational environment,” said Dean Corkin, Project Manager at Equilibrium. “The technical support and product knowledge provided by IPD and ABB Australia were consistently strong throughout procurement, installation and commissioning.”
Industry Collaboration
Josh Paikada, Segment Manager - HVAC & Infrastructure at ABB Australia, stated: “Energy efficiency is at the core of ABB Drives' mission, and we're proud to be part of the transformation of the New Sydney Fish Market. The ABB ACH580 HVAC VSD is designed for simplicity, dependability and energy-efficient performance in landmark infrastructure projects like this.”
The project highlights the value of collaboration between contractors, technology providers, and suppliers in delivering infrastructure that balances environmental responsibility, operational performance, and long-term financial viability.
