ABB is mobilising to start construction work in Blyth, Northumberland at the site of a future HVDC Light converter station. The site will be the UK end of the North Sea Link (NSL), the 1,400 MW interconnector that will link the power grids of the UK and Norway. ABB’s Project Manager Supratim Banerjee explains how a project charter has set the tone for safe, open and honest team working.
ABB was appointed in 2015 by Statnett and National Grid to design, engineer and supply two 525 kV HVDC converter stations using HVDC Light, the voltage source converter (VSC) technology developed by ABB in the 1990s.
When it enters operation in 2021, the link will enable trading of electricity between the UK and Norway. This will enhance energy security and adoption of renewable generation as the UK will export renewable energy when it is abundant and import Norwegian hydro power at periods of peak demand.
At 720 km in length, the NSL will be the world’s longest subsea power interconnector, making the project a new milestone in technology.
Important landmark for Blyth
Being selected as the site of the NSL’s UK converter station has established new engineering opportunities in Blyth. NSL will be an important local employer during and after construction and a source of pride for the region.
As one of Northumberland’s most significant construction sites, the converter station will be a notable local landmark. The local authority has granted planning permission on the condition that the buildings integrate colours from the local environment to help them blend in.
Site mobilisation
At the peak of activity, around 150 workers will be active in Blyth. Before they arrive, ABB’s mobilisation team is putting in place high quality site facilities, including car parking, welfare, safety and access systems. These include a biometric turnstile to control access using fingerprint technology. This will identify team members as they arrive and support safe working by creating an automated fire register.
With this quality-focused construction environment, ABB is setting the tone for high professional standards, project delivery and health and safety practice.
Project, safety and quality charters
ABB is also championing the project charter that was established by clients National Grid and Statnett during a safety workshop at the outset of the project in late 2015. The NSL partners created a project charter during a one-day workshop with ABB and other top tier suppliers.
At the workshop, the clients established four cornerstones of project delivery: One team, communication, trust and respect. Based on this, a set of guiding principles for the project was established, which all team members signed at the end of the workshop.
Since then, all team meetings begin with a ‘charter moment’ to reflect on recent activities and what could be improved.
ABB has now taken it a step further for the converter stations by creating a quality charter with the goal of making quality happen on the project, with zero harm and zero defects.
At the end of the workshop, all attendees signed a board – and this will be on show in the site reception. Ultimately, when new workers are inducted onto the site at Blyth, part of their induction process will be to sign the charter. ABB expects to collect more than 200 signatures by the end of the project.
Creating the civil structures
Construction work will be a major undertaking and the first phase will include earthworks to create the substructure, foundations, underground services, earth mats, cable ducts and a drainage system.
Once the foundations are in place, ABB will then be able to construct the buildings that will form the HVDC converter complex.
