Pioneering sustainable design
Unison is committed to leading a sustainable energy future that delivers consumers’ changing energy needs, while enabling our communities to prosper for generations to come.
This project presented an opportunity for Unison to materialise this vision and purpose, and showcase how modern substations can be safe and functional, as well as flexible, sustainable and beautiful.
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Traditionally, the construction of a substation utilises materials that aren’t considered to be environmentally friendly, including reinforced concrete – cement is the source of around 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide – and PVC.
Assisted by Charissa Snijders Architect and Tricia Love Consultants Ltd, experts from across the sustainable building industry, our engineers have designed and built a substation that reduces our carbon footprint and uses materials that are kind on the environment and people. The design of the substation is modular, meaning it can be replicated and built again across the network, and is relocatable, and can be moved elsewhere in the future if necessary.
Key design features:
- The new stand-alone substation has been installed in front of an existing building.
- Replacement of the switchboard includes construction of a new switch room; replacing the 11kV switchboard, associated cabling and the existing mechanical protection relays; installation of arc flash protection; and partial discharge monitoring of the 11kV switchboard.
- Salvaged materials have been used alongside products that are healthier and non-toxic compared to traditional building materials.
No Red List materials have been used – Red List building materials contain chemicals designated as harmful, and are deemed the worst materials prevalent in the building industry.