GE Vernova National Grid will supply a new 400 kV GIS substation in Chesterfield, England, to expand electricity transmission capacity and facilitate the integration of renewable energy. The infrastructure is part of National Grid’s Brinsworth-Chesterfield and Chesterfield-High Marnham projects.
GE Vernova will modernize the UK’s electricity grid
The company was selected by Laing O’Rourke to supply the new 400 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation. The facility will be integrated into National Grid’s projects aimed at strengthening England’s electricity infrastructure.
Specifically, the new infrastructure will allow for an increase in the transmission network’s capacity to meet the growth of the electricity demand it will also be aimed at maintaining the reliability of supply and facilitating the integration of more renewable generation produced in the United Kingdom.
The project is part of a broader intervention on the electricity infrastructure of Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. These actions aim to prepare the system to carry larger volumes of electricity in the coming years.
A 400 kV GIS substation to increase capacity
Furthermore, the facility will employ GIS technology to manage high-voltage electricity transmission, this type of switchgear allows for the operation of high-capacity installations with the levels of safety and reliability required by modern electrical grids. Chesterfield’s project is also integrated into The Great Grid Upgrade, the National Grid program aimed at modernizing transmission infrastructure in England and Wales.
The goal is to have a network capable of transporting more electricity between generation areas and consumption centers. In turn, the increased capacity will facilitate the connection of new clean energy sources to homes and businesses. According to Johan Bindele the CEO of Grid Systems Integration at GE Vernova stated that transmission infrastructure will determine the pace at which the energy transition can proceed. He noted that the project will enable the transmission of more electricity, strengthen resilience, and support long-term economic growth.
g³ GIS technology to replace SF₆
In addition, GE Vernova plans to use its technology g³ SF₆-free GIS at the substation, the solution is part of the company’s GRiDEA portfolio and is designed as an alternative to sulfur hexafluoride traditionally used in high-voltage electrical equipment.
The technology seeks to maintain the performance, safety and reliability levels required by a modern transmission network while avoiding the use of SF₆ in the switchgear planned for the project.
This component adds an environmental dimension to the Chesterfield modernization because the project combines the expansion of the electrical infrastructure with technologies aimed at decarbonizing the grid.
GE Vernova will handle the engineering and commissioning
GE Vernova’s scope of work will encompass several stages of the project, the company will handle the design engineering, equipment procurement and delivery, as well as on-site installation, testing, and commissioning of the new infrastructure. The work also includes primary and secondary engineering, protection and control systems, interface management, and integration of the substation with the existing transmission network.
Finally, GE Vernova will participate in the decommissioning of the equipment to be replaced, giving Laing O’Rourke and National Grid a scope that encompasses everything from engineering to the final integration of the new systems. According to Adam Rawling, Director of Enterprise Partner at Laing O’Rourke, Chesterfield’s project will future-proof the British electricity grid with increased capacity and reliability.
With the Increasing electricity demand and greater incorporation of renewable generation the 400 kV substation will be part of the expansion of transmission capacity between different regions of England.
Source: GE Vernova
Photo: Shutterstock
