Powering Scotland’s Infrastructure from the Ground Up
Scotland’s energy infrastructure is undergoing a period of major investment.
Across the country, new and upgraded transmission infrastructure is being developed to strengthen the electricity network, connect renewable generation and move increasing volumes of power to where it is needed.
And while pylons, substations and wind turbines may be the most visible signs of this changing energy landscape, a growing amount of important work is also taking place underground and beneath the sea.
From underground cable routes crossing remote areas of Scotland to major subsea connections linking different parts of the country and the wider UK, cable installation is becoming an increasingly important part of the infrastructure picture.
But laying hundreds of kilometres of high-capacity cable brings its own practical challenge:
How do you power the equipment needed to install it when there is no suitable power supply available?
A Growing Infrastructure Programme
The scale of investment taking place across Scotland is significant.
Major transmission projects are progressing across the north of Scotland, while new subsea links are being developed to transport electricity between areas of renewable generation and centres of demand.
These projects can involve extensive stretches of subsea cable alongside underground sections connecting landfall points, substations and converter stations.
For the contractors delivering them, that means operating specialist equipment in some particularly challenging environments, from remote areas of the Scottish countryside to the back decks of offshore vessels.
Reliable temporary power therefore becomes an important part of the installation process.
Power Where the Cable Takes You
Cable installation requires a range of specialist equipment, much of which is increasingly electrically powered.
Depending on the project, temporary generators can be required to power cable pulling equipment, under rollers, hydraulic power units (HPUs), reelers and carousels.
Onshore, the challenge is often location. Cable routes can pass through remote and outlying areas where connecting equipment to an existing electricity supply simply is not practical.
Offshore, the circumstances are different but the requirement remains much the same. The vessel itself may not have sufficient available power for the specialist cable installation equipment operating on its back deck.
In both environments, a suitably specified temporary generation package provides an independent source of power where it is needed.
From 150kVA to 650kVA and Beyond
The power requirement varies considerably according to the scale and type of equipment being used.
For larger cable installation packages, generators can typically range from around 150kVA to 650kVA, although smaller equipment packages may require correspondingly smaller generators.
Importantly, the generator is only one part of the temporary power package.
Genny Hire can also provide the associated transformers, cables, connectors and fuel tanks required to create a practical power solution for the equipment being supported.
For contractors, having these elements supplied together can help simplify mobilisation and ensure that the complete package is appropriate for the application.
Different Environments, Different Challenges
Providing temporary power for an infrastructure project on land is very different from supplying equipment for use offshore.
For offshore projects, equipment may remain on the back deck of a vessel for an extended period, travelling with it between different regions and even different countries as work progresses.
Generators must therefore be suitable for the offshore environment, including the requirements associated with Rig Safe operation and sea fastening.
Onshore projects bring their own logistical considerations.
Generators and associated equipment may need to be transported into remote locations before remaining alongside the cable installation package for a period of work. Once that section is complete, the equipment can be moved to the next location as the project progresses.
This combination of mobility, remote access and demanding operating conditions makes careful specification and dependable support particularly important.
When Downtime Isn't an Option
Reliability matters on every temporary power project. On major infrastructure schemes, however, its importance is magnified.
Cable installation projects represent significant investment and involve numerous interconnected operations, contractors, vessels, equipment and schedules.
A failure in the temporary power supply does not simply stop a generator. It can interrupt the equipment it is supporting, affect other operations and ultimately have a knock-on effect on project timings and delivery dates.
The power package therefore needs to be selected, prepared and supported with the importance of the wider operation firmly in mind.
For Genny Hire, that means supplying equipment that is fit for purpose and appropriate for the environment in which it will operate.
Supporting the Infrastructure Beneath Our Feet – and Our Seas
As investment in Scotland’s electricity network continues, underground and subsea cable infrastructure will form an important part of the country's evolving energy system.
Much of the infrastructure being installed may ultimately be hidden from view. The work required to put it there, however, depends upon a considerable combination of specialist equipment, engineering expertise and reliable power.
From remote onshore cable routes to offshore installation vessels, Genny Hire provides temporary power packages designed to keep essential equipment operating when and where it is needed.