Blackhillock 400/275/132kV Substation

BT Bell provided civil and structural engineering design services for the Blackhillock 400/275/132kV Substation near Keith in Moray. The development formed a key part of the major reinforcement of the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland and supported the Caithness–Moray HVDC link.

The project involved a major expansion and redevelopment of the existing Blackhillock site, incorporating 400kV and 132kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), 275kV Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) and associated Super Grid Transformer infrastructure. The completed substation was capable of transferring up to 1,200MW of electricity between Caithness and Moray.

BT Bell provided civil and structural design input across the substation development, including foundations for high-voltage equipment, transformer infrastructure, substation buildings, cable routes, drainage and associated external works. The scale and complexity of the project required extensive coordination between the civil, structural and electrical disciplines, while also accommodating interfaces with the existing operational transmission infrastructure.

The completed Blackhillock Substation provided a major transmission hub for the north of Scotland, increasing network capacity and resilience and enabling greater volumes of renewable electricity generated in the north to be transferred to areas of demand across the wider electricity network.