Learnings

Outcomes

The outcomes from each phase of the project are outlined below:

Procurement:

The procurement process for each component within the substation is complete. A tender process with leading manufacturers was undertaken to select the most technical and commercial optimal solutions for each component within the substation.

Identification:

We have identified an existing substation in the south west of Glasgow which requires refurbishment and will be location for the deployment of the new technology. The location of the site provided an opportunity to showcase the project during the COP 26 conference held in November 2021.

Design:

The substation design is complete with detailed specification and drawings developed for the new substation. Life Cycle Analysis for the substation housing and other civil components has taken place and these have been specified within the substation design documents.   

Deploy:

The substation of the future project is now complete. The substation has been successfully installed and put into operation serving in the south of Glasgow. 

Review:

A carbon optioneering assessment to estimate the capitol carbon (embodied carbon) and operational carbon (associated with losses eg SF6) for the novel substation design against a typical substation. 

Our assessment was carried out using our in-house tools which have been developed using accepted carbon emission databases. In addition, the assessment process was validated by a third party. 

Through this carbon optioneering process – which allowed our design teams to identify and select the lowest carbon options, the sustainable substation resulted in a c.15% carbon reduction relative to the baseline design. This was primarily achieved through the use of low carbon concrete in the foundations, the use of bio-based oil in the transformer and the use of an SF6 alternative insulating gas within the RMU.

Lessons Learnt

The project is generating learning surrounding the availability of gases which may offer alternatives to SF6. Our tender process has shown how differing manufacturers are approaching the challenge to replace SF6 and provided an understanding of the commercial situation. We have developed learning surrounding low loss transformers and alternative, more environmentally friendly, insulating oils. Finally we have been able to develop an LCA process for the civil components such as the substation housing which will inform our sustainability policies in the future.