SSEN Transmission energizes Abernethy substation extension
SSEN Transmission has energized the new Abernethy Substation extension which will facilitate the connection of up to 50 MW of renewable energy.
The new substation infrastructure (Image source: SSEN Transmission)
UK, Scotland: SSEN Transmission has energized the new Abernethy Substation extension which will facilitate the connection of up to 50 MW of renewable energy.
After almost 24 months of work, SSEN Transmission has energized the new Abernethy Substation extension which will facilitate the connection of up to 50 MW of renewable energy to the local electricity distribution network, enough to power around 60,000 homes each year. The extension was required to the existing 132 kV substation to enable an increase in electricity capacity, which will allow for the future connection and onward transportation of energy generated in the area.
Delivered by principal contractor Freedom Group, the project involved the installation of new electrical components including busbar and 132kV outdoor switchgear, along with an expansion of the substation footprint into the field immediately north of the existing substation to make way for the new equipment and infrastructure upgrades.
This included the successful installation of two 120 MVA transformer units, each weighing around 100 tonnes, which arrived on site after a long journey from manufacturer SGB in Germany. The extension has also used two new 132kV SF6-free circuit breakers as part of the development, which use an environmentally friendly technology to help insulate the equipment. Now that the new equipment has been successfully energised, the previous equipment has been removed and recycled, with some parts stored as back up components for use elsewhere on the network. To ensure safe access for machinery during the works, the local road next to the project was widened.
Teams have been careful to ensure any environmental impact has been carefully mitigated, working towards a positive biodiversity net gain result for the project – meaning biodiversity is expected to improve by at least 10% directly due to the environmental initiatives set by the team.
Ewan Macfarlane, SSEN Transmission Project Manager, said: “The successful energisation of Abernerthy Substation is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams involved in this project. This extension will allow up to 50 megawatts of new renewable energy generation to connect to the electricity grid – enough to power up to 60,000 homes annually – which will help make a real difference as we work to deliver a network for net zero.”
Dave Hunter, SSEN Transmission Consents and Environment Manager, added: “Taking care of the environment has been key during this project and we’ve been careful to limit our impact as much as possible including arranging the work to avoid felling some of the more mature woodland around the substation site.”
With the substation extension now energised, all remaining landscaping and planting will progress over the winter months with completion expected in early spring.
Source: SSEN Transmission
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