System design including private wire networks
Becky Falls
On Stream carried out all design and licensing for this site which includes some challenging features.
The site included a number of land owners, and the developer had agreed to provide a private wire connection to multiple users, whilst maintaining independent supplies to these properties with changeover arrangements.
The design required a challenging extension of the Distribution Network Operator’s High Voltage network, this work included taking parts of the network underground, carrying out a significant extension including a river crossing in a difficult location, and trenching through a boulder strewn protected ancient woodland. At the new transformer location, a new private wire Low Voltage network to connect the power house and customers was included, with half hourly metering to all supplies. In addition the Low Voltage and fibre data network were extended to the remote intake where the telecoms connection was made, as well as data connections to customers and to the powerhouse to provide controls to comply with lease arrangements. Associated with the lease arrangements there is further power management apparatus to automate the prioritisation of different customers.
The hydro plant itself has significant aspects which are informed by the planning authority’s requirements, including pipeline above ground, and a separate powerhouse 200m from the turbine, with a turbine in a tiny housing within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) ancient woodland with extremely constrained access.
On Stream now carries out full asset management.
