Climate neutrality, or “going carbon neutral”, refers to an entity achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by either balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal (offsetting), or eliminating carbon emissions altogether. With renewable energy generation already established and a stable distribution network in operation at the Corrour Estate, the journey to carbon neutrality is continuing with increased electrification across the estate’s commercial and domestic loads.

Hydroplan are currently part of a panel of engineering and architecture consultants, designing and tendering for a sustainable energy project, which will encompass a new spatial layout, electrification of heat, provision of electric vehicle charging and consolidation of backup power generation. Hydroplan is the lead engineering consultant on the electrical distribution, including all changes to the 33kV, 11kV and 415V underground cable networks and associated substations.

Key Features:

• Remote, rural location
• Net zero emissions
• LV and HV electrical networks

The post Corrour Sustainable Energy Project first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

Knottingley is a 500kW low head hydro scheme on the River Aire in Yorkshire. The scheme was one of the first hydropower schemes in the UK to be co-located with a battery. The lithium-ion battery unit has a capacity of over 1200kWh and is designed to deliver Firm Frequency Response (FFR) for the National Grid. The battery can also export over TRIAD days, multiplying the scheme output by 2½ times.

The battery is remotely controlled using Limejump’s Virtual Power Plant offering. When not performing FFR or TRIAD services, the battery is used for load shifting and for trading to maximise the revenues at each site.

Hydroplan performed due diligence on behalf of the lender during construction and carried out a review of scheme performance in relation to raising the weir after commissioning.

Key Features:

• Battery and hydropower co-location
• Urban setting
• Pioneering approach
• Grid balancing services

The post Knottingley Battery first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

The Final element of the wider Corrour Estate hydro project was the completion of a substantial 33kV & 11kV private network. This project not only brought electricity for the first time to areas of the Estate, but includes major upgrade works to the SSE Grid Supply Point at Rannoch Power Station on Loch Rannoch, seven Private Substations (33kV & 11kV), four Hydro Power Stations, over 50km of new buried HV cable, nine LV transformers and two network transformers.

This private HV Network now supplies a mainline railway station, a Youth Hostel, the Station Restaurant, 9-holiday cottages, accommodation for the Estate’s 12 staff, BT & Vodafone masts and the main Estate Lodge.

• New 11kV substation created at Ghuilbinn Power Station.
• 6km of new 11kV underground cable laid between Ghuilbinn & Moy via Luiblea, crossing the River Ghuilbinn and River Spean.
• New 11kV substation at Luiblea providing local LV supply to 3 domestic properties, taking them off diesel generator for the first time ever.
• New 11kV substation at Moy providing local LV supply to 3 domestic properties and Estate Office, taking them off diesel generator for the first time ever.
• Increased electrical capacity will provide future capacity for the transition from oil & gas heating to electric, further removing the Estate’s requirements for fossil fuels.
• Power to this new network will be provided by the Estate’s four hydro schemes.

The post Moy HV Network first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

West Strathore is a 5MW solar project, located near Glenrothes in Fife on Scotland’s East Coast. Hydroplan was employed by the scheme lender to undertake a technical review of the project prior to construction and also to act as technical advisor during the construction process.

The first phase of the works comprised a review of the planning and legal documentation, the site layout and system design and the proposed costs, energy yield and timescales for construction. Part of this work also included drawing up a risk register with a traffic light system of red, amber and green risks for the lender to consider.

The second phase of the works involved site attendance during construction and a final report, post-commissioning.

Key Features:

• High installed power
• Short construction timetable
• ROCs scheme

The post West Strathore Solar first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

Carver Hey and Wick Lane are two solar projects where Hydroplan was employed by the scheme lender to undertake a technical review of the projects prior to construction. Thereafter, Hydroplan was the technical advisor during the construction process.

The first phase of the works comprised a review of the planning and legal documentation, the site layout and system design and the proposed costs, energy yield and timescales for construction. Part of this work also included drawing up a risk register with a traffic light system of red, amber and green risks for the lender to consider.

The second phase of the works involved site attendance during construction and a final report, post-commissioning.

Key Features:

• High installed power
• Short construction timetable
• ROCs schemes

The post Carver Hey & Wick Lane Solar first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

Hydroplan was involved in the transformation of passenger facilities and a terminal upgrade for Aberdeen Airport as a sub-contractor to Quartzelec. The overall project is set to see a 50% increase to the terminal size.

Quartzelec was responsible for implementing the electric work for the project, installing a new HV switchboard, two HV transformers and two LV switchboards, as well as over 6km of HV and LV cabling. For Hydroplan, the contract involved fast turnaround of protection and discrimination study for a new low-voltage switchboard prior to energization, which was provided quickly, and to a high standard.

Key Features:

• High tech situation
• Fast turnaround
• Collaborative approach

The post Aberdeen Airport first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

Alongside Sanima Hydro and Engineering Ltd. in Nepal, Hydroplan was asked to assist with the feasibility studies and preparation of tender documents for 10 mini Hydropower projects in Western Uganda together with associated rural electrification and grid connection.

The hydropower projects range in size from 300kW to 4MW and the rural electrification component will enable a total of 26,000 new connections.

 In alliance with:

The post Western Uganda Hydropower and Electrification Project first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

A number of estates already operate successful hydropower schemes, many which have been designed and built by Hydroplan over the last decade. Given the variability of hydro generation it was considered to be worth exploring the opportunities for integrating other renewable energy sources, making use of the existing grid connection.

Hydroplan was employed to investigate the options for installing solar panels on the site – both rooftop and ground mounted. The scope of the study included a site visit to identify suitable locations for the panels, and assessment of prospective energy yield and how the solar generation would interact with the hydro.

The cost of solar panels and inverters has been reducing each year. However, with the low irradiance levels on the west coast of Scotland, the economic justification cannot yet be made.

Key Features:

• Hybrid solution
• Integrated with existing hydropower portfolio
• Using an existing grid connection

The post Estate-Based Solar Hybrids first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.

In 2014, Hydroplan took on the role of coordinating the connection of the Scottish North West grid to the Grudie Bridge Grid Supply Point (GSP) to accommodate existing and future hydropower generation in the region. The North West of Scotland was severely grid constricted and connections were both expensive and transmission constrained. Hydroplan was responsible for the design, project management and cumulative grid impact studies to assess the effect of connecting the schemes to the grid on the existing capacity.

The cost of connecting a number of remote schemes to the national grid was shared by the North West Grid Cluster, which was set up for this purpose. The connection was carried out in two phases over two years. The first phase saw the connection of 25 sites, with an additional seven connected in the second phase. The project required approximately 30km of new/upgraded grid poles, a new substation and several new transformers.

In addition, transmission works were undertaken at the Grudie Bridge Supply Point in order to export power from the region.

The post North West Grid first appeared on Hydroplan - Hydropower Consultancy.