PSG supports 33kV grid connection to accommodate BESS and solar

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As one of the UK’s fastest growing multi utility connection and EPCM providers, our customer was tasked with delivering the 33kV grid connection to accommodate BESS and solar developments. Power Supplies Group supported with technical advice from the initial drawings, ensuring full confidence in the specification and delivery of the chosen solution.

Project Overview

Assurance of quality

This project required the installation of a 45km, 33kV grid connection, made possible by directionally drilling a dual circuit which will be running in three phases. There is also potential for a third circuit, subject to confirmation.

On completion of drilling, our customer installed the ducting, pulled the cable and installed the joints before laying tape tile and caution tape. At each step, the quality, durability and compatibility of components is vital.

The EPC turned to Power Supplies Group, providing technical support and matched cable systems as part of a complete solution that goes beyond simple cable supply.

Unrivalled technical support

Our specialist team worked with the customer from the initial drawings to provide initial costings ahead of the contract win, and establish the feasibility of various cable routes.

The project team needed assurance that the cable and accessories would be reliable and delivered on time, with penalties in place for any delays. We supplied 45km of Top Cable X-Volt 33kV cable, together with 4km of tape tile, 3.65km of caution fibre tape and cable joints from our global supply partner, REPL.

Confidence comes through a five-year warranty on the cable, together with full transparency of the origin of raw materials, traceability down to the batch number in production and sustainability reports.

We also helped coordinate a delivery schedule with phased deliveries to ensure efficiency demands were met and site storage capacities considered – with stock stored in PSG’s warehouse until site was ready.

Overcoming challenges

Most failures on cable routes of this size occur around the cable joint, which is why we recommended a hybrid joint, incorporating both cold shrink and heat shrink technologies. This solution gave our customer the confidence that if either one of the cold shrink or heat shrink fails, the other technology will still be in place to minimise the risk of full cable system failure.

Joshua Parker, Regional Sales Manager for PSG,  said: “We instilled confidence throughout, from the initial costings and recommendations, through to quality of the products, warranty and assurance of delivery schedules. This level of support adds value way beyond a conventional cable supplier.”