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ESB NETWORKS LTD

Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em

Building the Lodgewood 200kV station.

Lodgewood Station now energised

LODGEWOOD 220KV/110KV station is located in County Wexford between Ferns and Enniscorthy. The station was connected at 220kV by looping into the Arklow–Great Island 220kV line and a 110kV connection to Crane via the 110kV line.

The southeast, and particularly Wexford, is quite a heavily-loaded area with numerous wind farms in development for connection to the grid. A multi-million euro project will alleviate the load demands for the Wexford area incorporating a new 110kV line to Crane 110kV Station. The main independent power producer (IPP) connection was to Abo Wind via a 110kV cable to their wind farm in Castledockrell, some 11km away.

A separate 110kV/MV station named Crory will also be developed on the same site and fed from Lodgewood to connect a further six wind farms.

Preliminary civil works at Lodgewood Station started in mid-September 2009 as part of a 30-week civil works construction phase taken on by David Flynn Ltd. Initial progress was slow due to appalling conditions where in one day up to 60mm of rain fell turning the greenfield site into a treacherous muddy environment. The improvement in weather during the following spring saw lost time recovered on the project with all bases poured and the control room built and the project was on schedule by the end of March with the electrical contractor ready to implement the electrical installation phase of the project.

Enterprise Ltd was contracted to carry out the electrical installation phase of the project. During this stage, a new 220kV tubular busbar was built with scope for a second bar in the future, along with two 220kV line bays, a coupler bay, and an entire 110kV tubular bar with additional scope for a second to be installed at a future date.

One particular important phase of this project was the unloading and positioning of a new 250MVA transformer. This operation required careful planning and precise implementation, which was carried out successfully by the lifting contractor. Road safety, traffic planning and safe-lifting procedures were thoroughly scrutinised and adhered to in order to carry out a safe passage of works. This required a wall to be taken down and rebuilt on particularly tight bend.

The line work for both the 220kV loop in and the new 110kV line to Crane was undertaken by Brendan O’Brien and Kevin Conroy. Negotiations with local landowners on access had held up the line build and delayed the connection. The new cubicle in Crane Station was completed by Stations staff in Enniscorthy.

Electrical installation started in May 2010.

Once the entire comprehensive phase of electrical installations and associated works were complete, an intense commissioning phase commenced in August 2010 which continued on into the early months of the following year. This was not helped again by some of the most severe weather in November and January with snow and very low temperatures. All primary and auxiliary electrical systems were tested to standard in preparation for energisation by ESBI.

As a result of the combined efforts of ESB Networks Project Leader Pat O’Brien, Project Supervisor Liam Lynch local station staff led by Pat Tobin, ESBI designers and commissioners, and the civil and electrical contractors, Lodgewood 220kV station was energised at 220kV in November 2010. The transformer and Castledockrell connection was made in January 2011 and the final connection to Crane Station was energised on 1st April 2011.

BIRD ON A WIRE

Martin Farrell sent EM this interesting image of an innovative nesting place! The photograph was taken in Cairns, Australia where Martin spotted birds nesting on network spacers! Close to the wire as they say!

ESB Networks helps Cavan Dialysis Unit

ESB Networks Construction Supervisor Paul Cooney, and Siobhan Mannering, of ESB Networks Clerical Support in Cavan, presenting a cheque for €500 to Marie Sheridan from the Cavan General Hospital Dialysis Unit. Included also are: Pauric Cooney, Hugh Birt, Sean O’Connell (A/S Cavan), Wendy Elliot, Aaron Mulligan, Sean McGuinness, Mairead McAweeney, Ray Ahern (Area Manager Cavan), Jackie O’Kane, Kevin Callery and Margaret Fanning. The donation resulted from the Cavan group receiving First Place in the North West Yard and Site Audit for 2010. Over the last four years, Cavan had come in second place in this competition and when they emerged winners for 2010 they decided to present the winning to a worthy cause. Cavan Area Manager Ray Ahern said, “This has been a great achievement by all the staff in Cavan area and represents their dedication towards the overall safety of themselves and their fellow workers.”