Linxon is set to deliver innovative new substations for Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in the Republic of Ireland, having secured its first strategic long term framework agreement.
The framework will see the company provide technical and equipment innovation, system integration and construction knowledge across ESB Networks electrical transmission network. This will range from 132kV to 400kV substations, and run from 2021 to 2024, with the option to extend the agreement until 2029.
Activities included in the agreement will range from small substation refurbishment and extension, to the delivery of innovative new build substations.
This will include – but is not limited to – the installation of 400 kV / 220 kV / 110 kV / 38 kV voltage levels GIS and/or AIS switchgears, as well as substation control system and protection systems, underground HV cable circuits and overhead lines.
“We are delighted to have been selected by the ESB to enter into a long-term relationship and secure our place on this exciting turnkey EPC substation framework,” said Derek Duggan, managing director of Linxon in UK, Ireland & Central Europe.
“This is a first major award in the Republic of Ireland, we will work in a collaborative way to deliver a successful framework between our organisations and I look forward to continuing this over the next few years with a firm focus upon achieving our shared Net Zero ambitions.”
Ireland is targeting an increasing share of renewables, with a goal of 70% of electricity demand to come from renewables by 2030. To facilitate this it launched its first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) in 2020, providing 109 projects with support in its first round.
Additionally, Eirgrid and ESB Networks released a full list of renewable energy projects to receive grid connection offers in Ireland through their enduring connection policy (ECP) process in November. Grid connection has often been sited as one of the biggest challenges to building out renewables in Ireland, making projects such as Linxon’s framework with ESB particularly important.