St Fergus Substation Switchgear Replacement

About the Project 

We are replacing the existing 132kilovolts (kV) switchgear within the St Fergus Sage Gas Terminal and St Fergus Switching Station along with replacing the existing double 132kV cable circuits operating between the cable sealing end compound (located west of the A90) and the St Fergus Sage Gas Terminal. The cable circuits to be replaced are 1 kilometre (km) in length (2km to be replaced, 2 x 1km) and will utilise horizontal directional drilling technology under the A90 trunk road, minimising excavation works, traffic management and road closures along the existing route. Details of any required road restrictions on sections of the route will be provided in the project updates section of this website.  

What is Switchgear?  

Switchgear is the equipment that controls and protects the flow of electricity. 

It keeps the power network safe by turning electricity off if there’s a problem and allows engineers to safely carry out maintenance. 

A cable sealing end compound is a fenced area where overhead lines are joined to underground cables. 

It ensures the connection is safe, secure and protected from weather and damage before electricity continues along the network.

Why is the Project Required? 

The existing 132kV switchgear equipment is outdoors and has shown signs of deterioration due to age and proximity to the coast with its high saline environment. The existing 132kV cable circuits are reaching end of life and are oil filled which have become outdated technology and presents a risk to the environment due to their oil content and age. This asset replacement project will enhance the electricity network in the St Fergus area, providing improved operational flexibility and resilience in line with our goal to aim for 100% transmission network reliability for homes and businesses.  

Community Engagement

Throughout the life of our projects, we aim to work positively with local communities and keep people informed about what we are doing. This is particularly important when we are developing a proposal and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.

We endeavour to take the time to discuss proposals with local community councils, encourage engagement from the wider community and listen to the feedback we receive.

We will do our best to answer any questions and address issues or concerns that are raised with us.

When our project progresses into construction, we will continue working closely with the local community to ensure that our work has as little impact on the lives of those living and working in the area and as many long term positive effects as possible.

How we’re embracing artificial intelligence (AI)
We intend to use AI to assist our experienced teams in the analysis of your feedback, so we can categorise key points raised more quickly. You can learn more about how we’re utilising AI on this dedicated web page.