North Sea Interconnector
Siemens Energy / Neuconnect
Project Highlights
Sector
Logistics and Infrastructure
Procurement Route
Single-Stage Traditional with BoQ and CDP
Value
£19.2m
Programme
45 weeks
Completion Date
Live Project
Location
Isle of Grain
Client
Siemens Energy
Key Features
- Project comprises 50% of a joint-venture delivery totalling £45m.
- NCL engaged as the above-ground specialist working with a key supply-chain partner delivering below-ground structures.
Project Summary
The project comprises the delivery of the above-ground incoming power housings and control building for a joint UK-German energy sharing
system.
The project requires the design development of the initial stage 3 design into a co-ordinated scheme and delivery on site and requires liaison with both Siemens Energy as a direct client, and Neuconnect as the over-arching client for the UK and Europe projects.
Design Features
The project houses highly sensitive electric current converter equipment, requiring inclusion of enhanced earthing systems and development of a proprietary faraday-cage arrangement.
This is then incorporated into superstructure and envelope design, complete with enhanced testing during construction to ensure this key infrastructure installation is adequately protected.
Logistical Challenges
- The site is accessed via constrained access route shared with an adjacent Liquid Natural Gas distillation and storage depot. This restricts access to the site and requires co-ordination of deliveries with adjacent land-owners to ensure access is maintained.
- The isolated, coastal nature of the site brings exposure to extreme, rapidly changing
weather; works plans have been developed to ensure adaptability to the environment to protect delivery. - As a joint-venture project, our works are integrated into a wider delivery programme requiring co-ordination of, and interface with third-party contractors both proceeding and following our works; communication was enhanced to ensure co-ordination was maintained through regular meetings and planning updates.
Project Interfaces
- Our scope comprises the above-ground construction works only, requiring careful interface both with the sub-structure and the fit-out contractors who were both client-direct.
- Daily co-ordination meetings were held to allow works to progress in an environment of heavily enhanced control measures to mitigate interface risk.
- Management teams integrated throughout delivery to establish clear communication, with information filtered throughout through briefings and planning meetings.
Community Enhancement and Involvement
- As mentioned above, the site approach shares the only road connecting the village of the Isle of Grain to the mainland. Accordingly, careful consideration of delivery frequency was required, together with specific sizing of delivery vehicles to
maintain access along the narrow route. - Pro-active liaison with local residents’ association in the form of letter drops and updated bulletin boards at the site boundary.
- Promotion of local businesses through targeted procurement and recruitment.
Sustainability and Environmental Contribution
- Bespoke envelop designs were developed for this project to accommodate the
interconnectors – this equipment releases high levels of noise pollution so the envelope was developed to contain this, mitigating impact to the surrounding Isle of Grain Creeks Special Protection Area. - As this envelope design was proprietary, u-value and fire testing was also carried out specifically for this project to demonstrate compliance with building regulations in a short time-frame prior to commencement.
