Alstom Grid boosted by new Quadrature contract

National Grid has awarded Alstom Grid a significant contract for the design, supply and commissioning of two 400kV 2750MVA Quadrature Boosters, valued at £18 million.

The first Quadrature Booster, which has been designated by National Grid as a spare unit, will be designed and manufactured in 2012, whilst the second will be manufactured in 2013 for installation at Penwortham Substation near Preston, Lancashire.

Each Quadrature Booster comprises two transformers, individually weighing around 270 tonnes. Once installed at site, filled with oil and connected together they will have a total weight in the region of 1,040 tonnes.  The units will be built at Alstom Grids transformer factory in Stafford where the contract will create additional work for the 300-strong workforce over the next three years.

The North West of England is experiencing a huge surge in the growth and development of wind farms located off the shore of Cumbria. The Quadrature Booster implemented at Penwortham will allow National Grid to control the increased power flows generated by them and optimise the load sharing in this part of the network.

Commenting Mark Wilson, Head of Sales and Tendering at Alstom Grids Transformer factory, said: This latest contract award by National Grid confirms the industrys confidence in our technical competence of the design and manufacture of transformers, particularly for these specialist non-standard type units. Both boosters will be an enhanced version of our existing proven design which are the largest Quadrature Boosters ever made in the UK.

Delivery and commissioning of the boosters is expected to commence during 2013 and 2014.