The team at Whitfield Consulting Services has recently been involved with a number of contracts for some interesting and high-profile projects where we have been able to use our knowledge and previous experience to good effect.
Early-stage involvement at Port of Felixstowe
The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s largest and busiest container port. It is embarking on an ambitious five-year development plan aimed at decarbonising its operations.
In November 2021, in conjunction with the “COP26” climate change conference in Glasgow, the Port of Felixstowe announced an order for 48 electric tractor units and 17 zero-emission, fully electric, remote-controlled rubber-tyred gantry cranes. The Port also has plans to integrate a large fleet of over one hundred all-electric tugs, which will obviously require land-based recharging infrastructure.
Felixstowe had already reduced its carbon footprint by 30% since 2015. But it had given itself a further target – to reduce by 20% more over the next five years. Part of the solution is a shift from diesel and other conventionally powered vehicles to new, electrically powered equipment.
To support both the heavy vehicles themselves, and the ancillary equipment, WCS was brought in as an early-stage partner. Working with the Port of Felixstowe and main contractor UK Power Networks Services, we completed a ground investigation, a topographical survey and a PAS-128 Survey Category Type B underground utility detection assessment for buried services. In addition, we are delivering the civil engineering design for the project, including equipment foundations and cabling.
Powering HS2 in North London
We recently won a bid to provide the civil engineering design for two of the HV circuits that will transmit power to HS2 at Old Oak Common.
To power this part of HS2, UK Power Networks will be supplying 45 MVA of electrical power. That’s enough to power 11,000 homes. New systems will be required to transmit this power from the National Grid substation site at Willesden to the newly-built HS2 Atlas Road Substation.
Initially, we were asked to provide surveys for the project area, and to explore options for the engineering solution. Subsequently, we were approved to provide the detailed design on the selected solution. This involved two 33kV cable circuits delivering power to the HS2 substation. The route of the cabling, through busy north London, means passing through and under Network Rail infrastructure, and also across the Grand Union Canal via a bridge. This is a complex and challenging project, requiring liaison with HS2, National Grid, Network Rail, the Canal & River Trust and SCS Railways.
Supporting Hitachi Energy’s Equinor onshore substation FEED study
Equinor operates the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm and the nearby Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm, which are in the North Sea, off the coast of Norfolk. Approval was recently sought to add over sixty new turbines, which would greatly increase the output of both, ultimately requiring the construction of a new, purpose-built, onshore substation as an extension to the National Grid substation at Norwich Main.
Hitachi Energy have been engaged by the end client to provide a FEED (Front End Engineering Design) study, with WCS providing the Design Intent Document (DID) for the civils works.
Surveys and design for Network Rail and Greater Anglia
With the opening of the new Elizabeth Line, there is expected to be more traffic on the Great Eastern Line, especially in its Southern portion, London Liverpool Street being on both routes.
Because of this, recent years have seen a series of upgrades to overhead power lines and associated infrastructure on the Great Eastern Line.
Working with Network Rail and main contractor J Murphy & Sons and Andromeda Engineering, Whitfield Consulting Services was asked to partner on a project to replace a number of Power Supply Points. This work is currently at PACE 1 (Development & Project Selection), completing civil engineering design, plus a trio of surveys with which we’re very familiar – topographical, ground investigation and PAS-128 underground utility assessment.
Further projects with Network Rail and J Murphy & Sons
Perhaps the best experience we have as a designer is to be selected again and again by the same Tier 1 partners, earning us a role as the “go to” for certain types of project.
A recent inspection by Network Rail identified the need to repair and strengthen the structure of the footbridge at Manor Park Station. We supported J Murphy & Sons at GRIP Stage 3, providing civil engineering designs and site surveys for the several options identified and proposed. Following design approval, we remained on the project, working on the Statement of Design Intent and the formal Design and Check process.
To find out more about how we work, or to see some of our recently completed projects, visit our portfolio page or get in touch.