Transmission Substation Modernization
A 345 kV substation rebuilt one bay at a time, with the grid never losing it.
- Owner
- Confidential
- Location
- U.S.
- Market
- Power & Utilities
- Delivery
- EPC
- Scale
- 345 kV
- Completed
- 2024
A transmission substation rebuilt bay by bay with no unplanned outage to the grid.
This substation is a key node on the transmission grid, and it had to stay in service while almost all of its equipment was replaced. Outage windows were short, booked months ahead with the grid operator, and could be cancelled on short notice if the system got stressed. Crews worked a few feet from energized equipment every day.
The approach.
- 01
Outages planned like launches
Every bay outage had a switching plan, a minute-by-minute schedule and a rollback plan agreed with system operators.
- 02
Foundations next to live bus
New foundations and conduit went in with strict approach distances, spotters and a daily energized-work briefing.
- 03
Relays tested twice
Protection and control panels were tested in the shop and again in place before any bay was energized.
- 04
Bay by bay
Each rebuilt bay was energized and proven before the next outage began, so the substation was never more than one bay down.
The outcome.
“The grid gave us windows, not weeks. We showed up to every one of them ready to finish.”
Project manager, MarkWester
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