Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £121m, four-year contract by National Grid to extend the Bramford 400kV substation in Suffolk.
The contract, awarded through National Grid’s EPC Framework, forms part of the Great Grid Upgrade and covers the Bramford to Twinstead project.
Balfour Beatty will design and install the substation extension, facilitating the connection of four new circuits, including two new grid supply points, and two new shunt reactors to improve the network’s reliability and efficiency.
The company will also integrate new gantry structures to support overhead line connections, and will design, supply and install systems to monitor, control, and safeguard the network.
On completion, the project is expected to support the transition to a low-carbon energy system by increasing transmission capacity and resilience across the East Anglia electricity network.
Tony Wilson, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution business, said: “This latest award builds on our continued work across East Anglia to strengthen and modernise the UK’s electricity network infrastructure.
“Our appointment reflects the expertise of our teams, our strong delivery track record and our capability to successfully deliver complex substation projects. We look forward to working closely with National Grid as we support increased network capacity and resilience for the communities and businesses that rely on this vital infrastructure.”
Work has already begun on the project, with completion expected in 2030. At peak, Balfour Beatty will employ approximately 150 people, including a number of apprentice and graduate positions.
Main image: A CGI render of the Bramford substation site
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