News

Fort Augustus – ASTI

ASTI

The ASTI project team have been working with SSEN on key substations including the 400kV upgrade at Fort Augustus which includes, as part of the overall scope, the construction of a 53,000 sqm platform extension, building a new 400kV GIS hall and an upgrade of the existing 275kV GIS.

The Major Projects North (MPN) – Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) team has been developed to support SSEN Transmission deliver the ASTI framework. This framework’s objective is the strategic electricity transmission reinforcement required to deliver the UK Government’s 50GW offshore wind 2030 target.

 

The ASTI project team have been working with SSEN on key substations including the 400kV upgrade at Fort Augustus which includes, as part of the overall scope, the construction of a 53,000 sqm platform extension, building a new 400kV GIS hall and an upgrade of the existing 275kV GIS. Fort Augustus is seen as a key project of the Beauly to Denny line upgrade as well as incorporating the upgrade from the local hydro storage scheme at Coire Glas into the transmission system. This will be one of the largest Omexom projects to be completed in Europe with an expected completion of 2031.

Engagement with SSENT for Fort Augustus started in late 2023 and now the ASTI team are on site undertaking investigative surveys ahead of the design phase of the project. The team have set up a temporary compound for the works and implemented systems and process which will provide the base for the main construction phase starting in 2025. We are working closely with SSENT colleagues to nurture positive and constructive relationships early on, providing the foundations of a successful project. Surveys currently being undertaken include:

 

  • Ecological and archaeological surveys
  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)/ utilities survey
  • Topography
  • Ground investigations
  • Laser scanning of existing substation
  • Thermal and soil resistivity

 

The spirit of the project is to provide crucial infrastructure to achieve NetZero whilst leaving a lasting and positive legacy on the local environment and communities. The ASTI team has already used their on-site presence to build local connections and develop relationships required for the years ahead.

 

In addition to the Fort Augustus project, the ASTI team are also currently developing the 400kV Emmock project outside of Dundee, which is a 400kV AIS substation on the eastern Scotland transmission line.

The Transmission England team have ended the year with the completion of two of their OHL projects, Hawton & Staythorpe Grantham. Hawton, an OHL dismantling project, saw the main works completed, erecting a new terminal tower and transferring the conductors across and dismantling 7 of the 8 redundant towers. The final tower was dismantled and bundled for re-use by the client, this month and the foundations removed.

Staythorpe saw the final Network Rail section completed, including two night shifts by the team with the line available for re-energisation a week ahead of schedule. However, there was still a lot of work to undertake removing machines from site, crossing protections, trackway access and demobilising the site welfare. During the project we had both internal and external audits which the team received high praise for. Shane Doughty, Site Manager and the team of over 30 completed the project extremely efficiently and overcame challenges when they arose, eliminating any impact to the programme.

However, Transmission South are not stopping on the run up to the Christmas break with 3 point of connection schemes in the Worcester & Gloucester area underway. Due to delays the team have been under pressure installing tower foundations on all three projects Doverdale, Claydon and Ryall Lane, before the end of 2024. This entails successfully completing the diversion of the Doverdale OHL and installation of a new terminal tower and sealing end platform as well as through connection. The cable connections and downleads will be started in the new year, ready for connection to the solar farm substation that is currently under construction.

The Claydon and Ryall Lane diversion and tower erections will be started in early 2025 with completion dates in March.

 

Previous info on above projects

Our Transmission England team have been hard at work on the Staythorpe to Grantham project, refurbishing the existing 132kV double overhead line circuit. This involves the replacement of the OHL and earth wire over the span of 23km on 79 towers between Staythorpe Substation & Grantham North Substation. Furthermore, there was an additional section of earth wire replacement to be carried out on an adjacent circuit.

During the contract award the team were also requested to install an additional two L4m terminal towers to facilitate two solar farm points of connections. This required an offline build followed by the transfer of the OHL to the new tower and a tower being raised into position under outage with the conductors in situ.

The team mobilised on site at the beginning of August, with preliminary works starting much earlier due to sensitive stakeholder management required from Highways and Network Rail and landowners. This was due to the project’s reach passing private shooting grounds, commercial business’s and taking place during harvest times. With the need for early communication, strong relationships have been made and maintained, allowing for required access and deployment of OHL protection. The team have utilised an abundance of CCS and Scaffold protection, enabling a smooth programme of works.