Power and Energy

Supporting The Power and Energy Sector

Whether it’s scheduled maintenance or a major infrastructure upgrade, there's a number of challenges unique to the power and energy industry.  

We are here to help deliver your project and have been consistently doing so for many years. We can add value by using our expertise to help reduce safety risks, project costs and complexity, whilst helping minimise disruption. 

Over the years we’ve helped deliver projects in the Power and Energy Sector from the power line upgrade at River Spey through to supporting Kirkthorpe’s Hydroelectric plant. We’ve also helped deliver major projects such as Project Vista which was an initiative to remove electricity transmission lines impacting some of the most scenic landscapes across Scotland’s National Parks.

Project planning and overcoming challenges

One of the major challenges when working in the Power and Energy sector is many projects require complex designs due to their remote locations such as wind farms, hydroelectric plants or transmission lines in the highlands. Doing any work in these areas requires extensive planning and co-ordination. Our expert led teams can provide complex designs and installations from temporary bridges to formwork and support structures ensuring minimal disruption and high-quality results.

Early engagement

We regularly see the benefits of early engagement with temporary works providers at the beginning of a project and it can be vital in the power and energy sector. By using immersive technology like EVE, we can simulate and rehearse a project before any on-site work begins, enabling us to identify and resolve potential issues in advance and prevent project delays.

We are also on call to respond quickly to emergency situations and get things moving again. 

Improving site and environmental safety

Whether you’re working on hydroelectric power plants and need shoring equipment on site fast or have more complex access issues requiring temporary bridging our expert engineers can help deliver your project safely and efficiently.

We know how important it is to monitor new and existing structures to ensure everyone’s safety and can provide real-time data  without the safety risks involved of manual surveys.  Protecting the environment is becoming more and more important and our monitoring solutions are modular and scalable meaning they are suitable for both structural and environmental monitoring.

One temporary works partner from start to finish 

To help minimise the challenges when managing multi-phase, multi-partner projects, we can work with you from the beginning. Bringing you simple or complex design solutions and supplying the necessary equipment for your project. We’re also the only temporary works specialist in the UK that can install and dismantle the kit.

As the UK transitions toward a net-zero energy future, significant investments are being made in the country’s power transmission infrastructure. The RIIO-T3 regulatory period, running from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, sets the framework for these developments, shaping the strategies of key transmission operators.

Overview of Transmission

Transmission Networks are the motorways of the electricity system. A network of overhead lines, underground conductors and substations link the power stations and allow large amounts of electricity to be transmitted around the country to meet the demand at any time.  

Applications for temporary works: 

Pylon base foundations 

Pylon foundations form the structural bases for transmission towers, which may be spaced anywhere from 200 to 500 metres apart depending on the line voltage. Constructing or upgrading them often involves significant excavations, sometimes requiring cofferdams as large as 10 × 10 × 5 metres. These works must be safely supported and often carried out in remote locations where access for plant is severely restricted. 

Our temporary works solutions include sheet piles, bracing frames and formwork systems to enable safe groundwork excavation and casting. Temporary bridges and access matting are also commonly used, ensuring that heavy plant and materials can reach site safely. With our extensive depot network, we can deliver these solutions quickly, even to the most challenging locations. 

Removal of Exisiting Assets

As part of Ofgem-funded programmes to reduce the visual impact of energy infrastructure, overhead power lines are being removed and replaced with underground cables. This often involves dismantling pylons and transporting them away, which requires the use of large and heavy plant. Given the remote nature of many of these sites, temporary bridges and access solutions are essential.

Construction of Substations

Substations are vital to the energy network, stepping voltage up or down and distributing electricity safely across the grid. Their construction presents a number of challenges, including extensive earthworks, foundation construction, and the delivery of heavy equipment such as transformers and switchgear. 

We support substation projects by providing temporary access bridges for plant, robust formwork for bases, and a range of safety and ground protection products. Our breadth of equipment and installation expertise ensures contractors can manage complex works efficiently while maintaining the highest safety standards. 

Intrusive testing of tower foundations 

Intrusive testing provides vital data on the condition of existing tower foundations, helping clients plan upgrade programmes. This process involves excavating existing foundations and taking core samples of the concrete pad. 

The work is often carried out in high-voltage environments and in remote or mountainous terrain where lightweight plant is essential. Mabey Hire’s MAP Box system has been specifically used for this purpose, providing four-sided excavation support while allowing access to the pad for core sampling. Alongside MAP Boxes, we provide backhoe boxes, ground protection mats and vibration monitoring, creating a safe and practical solution for this specialist task. 

OHL Pile Capping 

Pile caps distribute tower loads evenly into the ground, providing stability and resisting the uplift and overturning forces caused by wind and conductor tension. Traditional construction methods using stub and column formwork often lead to positioning and load transfer problems, with a risk of movement during construction. 

Using a combination of formwork and propping this engineered approach eliminates the risks associated with traditional methods and provides a safer, more efficient way of constructing pile caps. Access matting and other groundworks equipment can also be supplied to suit specific site conditions. 

Overview of Distribution  

Electricity is taken from the Transmission Network and reduced to 132,000 volts and lower voltages for distribution by the local electricity companies. Some large industrial customers requiring large amounts of electricity may be supplied direct from substations at 33,000 volts. The supply is further reduced to 11,000 volts for distribution to towns, villages and direct to small industrial customers. 

The voltage is finally reduced by transformers to 230 volts for use in homes, schools, shops and businesses. 

Applications for temporary works: 

Joint bays 

Joint bays are needed when voltage changes occur along the distribution network to facilitate the safe and efficient connection of cables with different voltage ratings. They ensure proper cable splicing, insulation, and safety measures, while providing maintenance access for ongoing upkeep of the electrical system. 

The excavation can often be on uneven or rocky ground and the presence of other utilities can complicate site preparation. Limited space and access may hinder the manoeuvring of equipment and materials, while unstable soil or high groundwater levels can cause delays or risks during excavation. Ensuring the joint bay’s correct alignment and structural integrity, especially in deeper excavations, is crucial. Additionally, handling large, heavy materials like concrete requires careful coordination, and adverse weather conditions can impact both the excavation process and the curing of materials. 

They require a large concrete box embedded deep underground. Large cofferdams, and even back-to-back cofferdams can be required for the excavation. The joint bay box is typical pre-cast however formwork can be required for the construction of the concrete box. Given the location access matting if often required as well as environmental monitoring. 

Directional Drilling 

Directional drilling is a technique used to install underground cables or ducts without the need for traditional open trench excavation. It involves drilling a hole along a pre-determined path, then pulling the cable or duct through the drilled bore. The purpose of directional drilling in these projects is primarily to reduce disruption to the surface and surrounding environment. It allows for the installation of electrical infrastructure beneath roads, pavements, rivers, or other obstacles where traditional trenching would be difficult, costly, or disruptive. It also helps in minimising the risk of damage to existing infrastructure such as water, gas, or sewer lines.  

While directional drilling itself doesn’t require extensive open trenching, there might be temporary trenches or pits needed for equipment set-up (such as a launch pit or receiving pit) at the beginning or end of the drilling path. Shoring systems are used to support these pits and prevent collapse, ensuring safety for workers and maintaining the integrity of the surrounding area. Monitoring of the drilling fluid management is crucial. 

Cable runs 

Cable runs for electrical distribution provide secure and efficient paths for cables, protecting them from damage and environmental factors.  

The installation of cable runs often faces challenges with navigating around existing infrastructure and services, such as water, gas, or telecom lines. In densely built areas, there may be limited access for excavation equipment, and careful planning is needed to avoid damaging these utilities during the installation. 

One key solution is the use of trench boxes. As the trench is excavated, the trench boxes are moved forward (or "leapfrogged") along the trench, allowing work to continue without compromising safety. Other temporary works include the establishment of temporary access roads such as TuffTrak to accommodate machinery.