NS Interconnector | Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Blyth
Challenge.
Mitsubishi Electric Europe appointed ACS to undertake works at Blyth in the north-east to construct the extension of the 420 KV GIS substation as part of the North Sea Link.
As the works were completed on a live substation involving a system of works, ACS made sure all operatives were National Grid Person trained and that a National Grid Competent Person was available to accept the permits.
Surfacing works
The Truck Pave solution was a recycled material which resulted in reduction of the carbon footprint of the project. It also reduced future maintenance costs that would normally occur with concrete or tarmac.
In many of our substation projects across the UK, we have been responsible for installing the new platforms made up of Type 1 and 3 layers and dressed in specified chippings. We have in house paving teams also for the installation of hard standing areas including kerbs, edgings and paving areas.
Solution.
The work we completed included:
- Constructed a compacted granular platform consisting of 300mm thick compacted granular fill to MOT Type 3 and 75-mm stone chippings including associated earthworks.
- Provided a flexible access road which branched from the existing access road to the northwest of the site to the new substation.
- Installed underground cable ducts, troughs and draw pits to link the new substation works into the existing infrastructure.
- Installed a precast concrete cable trench where cables extend from the extended substation level down a slope to the existing substation at low level.
- Upgraded the external lighting and connection to existing cables and ducts.
- Provided a 6mx4m reinforced concrete ground bearing slab for a portable SF6 decontamination unit.
- Provided two reinforced concrete cable sealing end cable pits with GRP covers as well as provision of new drainage including manholes, catch pits and connection to the existing drainage system.
The road construction was the first of its kind in NG Substations because it used a Truck Pave system which avoided the traditional tarmac, or concrete roads normally adopted.
Outcome.
Given the nature of Truck Pave being a recycled material, this reduced the project’s carbon footprint and was the first time it was used on a National Grid site. It also reduced future maintenance costs that would normally occur with concrete or tarmac.
We developed a proactive working relationship with Mitsubishi Electric Europe, operating in close coordination to ensure the successful delivery of this challenging project. Along with Mitsubishi Electric Europe, we developed close partnerships with the other key stakeholders on the project including National Grid, the design teams and the other construction/M&E teams.
