Designing resilient grid infrastructure under real-world constraints
DACI Utilities Engineering Consultancy delivered the civil and structural design for the substation serving a solar farm at West House Farm, near Trimdon, County Durham.
DACI Utilities Engineering Consultancy delivered the civil and structural design for the substation serving a solar farm at West House Farm, near Trimdon, County Durham. The development covers approximately 75 hectares of arable and grazing land, centred on National Grid reference NZ385329.
Twenty-one design packages were delivered, spanning site formation, the control room and 33 kV switch room, transformer bunding, and structural design for the full air-insulated switchgear suite — each carried through EPC and Northern Powergrid review to Issued For Construction.
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The substation was formed from a greenfield baseline within an actively farmed landscape, with twenty-one packages running in parallel and every one of them subject to a two-stage approval chain.
DACI ran all twenty-one packages under a single appointment, so that civil, structural and building design moved together and interfaces were resolved internally rather than negotiated between separate consultants.
Each package was taken through the full review cycle (draft pack, approval pack, EPC and Northern Powergrid feedback incorporated and reissued) with the majority reaching Issued For Construction.
Twenty-one design packages taken through EPC and DNO review, with the majority issued for construction. All packages coordinated under single appointment, eliminating interface disputes and enabling streamlined approval cycles. Consistent specification framework applied across equipment foundations, auxiliary installations and site-wide infrastructure.
The project is live.
West House Farm enables the connection of large-scale solar generation to the distribution network, adding renewable capacity in the Northeast of England.
The scheme demonstrates how energy infrastructure can be integrated into productive agricultural land through a disciplined approach to footprint, access and drainage.
West House Farm demonstrates DACI's ability to deliver complete substation design (civil, structural and building) through dual EPC and DNO approval to construction under single appointment. The delivery of twenty-one coordinated packages spanning equipment foundations, auxiliary installations and site infrastructure, all designed to unified specifications, reflects capability to manage complex utility-scale energy projects. Integration of structural, civil and building disciplines under one consultancy with rigorous interface coordination ensures technical excellence and project efficiency. Adherence to National Grid standards enables delivery of large-scale renewable energy developments from concept through construction enablement.
DACI Utilities Engineering Consultancy was appointed to undertake the civil design associated with a 50MW Battery Energy Storage System at Sundon, off Water End Lane, Luton.
DACI Utilities Engineering Consultancy delivered the civil and structural design for the 132 kV substation serving a combined solar and battery storage development at Long Pasture, near Darlington, County Durham.
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