Design & manufacture of the 160MVA 132kV/33kV transformers

The 300MVA 132kV/33kV substation required a transformer scaled to meet its power demands, provide maximum resilience and efficiency, and minimise impact on the building’s footprint where land is at a premium.

Freedom designed three 160MVA 132kV/33kV transformers capable of operating and providing maximum power capacity to the three data centres with n-1 resilience – the robust design provides HV power continuity even if one transformer is out of service.

The transformers have no additional forced cooling from internal radiators to minimise moving parts, maximise reliability and enable full power capacity. Instead, large cooler banks on the roof do the work, which are concealed with louvres to allow the air to circulate and protect the equipment from the public.

Our market insight on global manufacturing demands for HV equipment identified a reduced manufacture lead time from three years to eighteen months by purchasing from Siemens Energy UK.

The transformers were manufactured in China to UK standards. Freedom carried out audits and inspections while the transformers were being assembled at the factory. We also provided technical services to witness, verify and validate the results during the factory acceptance tests.

Freedom managed the end-to-end solution from design through to delivery and installation. Working with our specialist supply chain partners, we organised transportation, marine warranty surveys and customs clearance of the transformers from the factory in China to the substation site in the UK.