ESB Networks upgrade 38kV Stations Nationally

With the phenomenal growth in demand in recent years, ESB Networks has been involved in a huge amount of either building or refurbishing stations at all voltage levels across the country. One of the large work programmes being undertaken by the Network Projects part of our business is the upgrade and refurbishment of 14 existing 38kV stations across the country. The vast majority of these existing stations are typically old 2 x 5MVA 38kV stations which have become significantly overloaded as a result of growth in demand.

NIE Powerteam and Kirby Electrical are delivering the civil and electrical aspects of each station project. ESBI has been engaged as the design consultant, and extensive design and preconstruction work has been underway for the last 18 months. This has involved engagement between Contracting Partners of ESB Networks and the design personnel in ESBI. From the start, the design process also involved significant input from the Network Investments and HV Substation Design Teams in Asset Management. This was required to identify the stations most in need of refurbishment and capacity upgrade.

At present, the stations earmarked for upgrade/rebuild stretch from amongst others, Birr in Co. Offaly to Newport in Co. Mayo, Killybegs in Co. Donegal to Birdhill in Co. Tipperary. The solution adopted for each station depended on a number of different factors including the availability of additional land adjoining the site, number of station MV outlets, type of station, status of network conversion outside the station, etc. The overall contract involves an approximate spend of €14M and will be ongoing over the next two years.