The Pathfinder project involved the transport, heavy lift and final offloading, positioning and installation of four 145 Tonne transformers from Buckie Harbour to Pathfinder, Blackhillock Beatrice Onshore Substation. Collett Transport was the chosen contractor because of their extensive experience in the transportation of heavy and abnormal transportation contracts.
Taking delivery of the transformers at Buckie Harbour. Image: Collett Transport
The project required meticulous planning and execution to manage the transportation of each transformer, which measured 7.5m L x 3m W x 4.3m H. The transformers arrived at Buckie Harbour via coaster vessel and were discharged using a 500 Tonne TEREX DEMAG TC3200 crane. The first two transformers were stored on stools at the harbour, while the remaining two were prepared on trailers for transport.
Each transformer was loaded onto modular 12-axle flat top trailers for transportation. The first two transformers were then transported from Buckie Harbour to the substation, accompanied by a police escort and our pilot car escort fleet.
The transformers were delivered in pairs, travelling in convoy to ensure smooth and efficient transportation.
Upon arrival at the site, each transformer was transhipped onto an 8-axle Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) to manoeuvre the tight site access. Navigating the site roads, the trailer was aligned with each respective plinth.
Collett’s Heavy Lift Team had pre-arranged the necessary jacking and skidding equipment. Each transformer was jacked and skated into position onto their respective bunds, with final positioning achieved using precise positioning plates. The same process was repeated for all three remaining transformers.
Collett’s Heavy Lift Team had pre-arranged the necessary jacking and skidding equipment. Image: Collett Transport
The Pathfinder project was set up by the National Grid to transition to a low carbon system of electricity production and decrease its reliance on fossil fuel generation to stabilise the system, while creating a more dynamic approach that will include non-synchronous power sources with a stable system.
To create this system National Grid (NG) has specific requirements that must be met to maintain the stability of the network – which includes inertia, short circuit levels, voltage, loss of mains protection and fault ride through.
The National Grid worked on Stability Pathfinder Phase – 2, which covers eight locations in Scotland, for the feasibility study. Here, the total requirement for the short circuit level is 8.4 GVA across all eight areas. The short circuit level is often represented in MVA or GVA. It is the power that can flow in a fault condition. Because of renewables, the short circuit level is dropping down. NG therefore asked people to tender solutions to this problem.
