Knights Brown has been appointed as civils subcontractor for the UK's first Greener Grid Park at Moray, Scotland.

Statkraft has awarded a contract to Powersystems UK for the £20 million grid project. AECOM has been appointed Owner’s Engineer.

Work has begun to prepare the ground prior to installation of the site compound and access routes, before the main civil engineering works get underway. The grid park is due to reach operational stage in autumn 2021.

The project, located near Scottish and Southern Electricity Network's transmission substation at Keith, will include two large rotating stabilisers designed to provide stable flows of energy through the grid network, helping to increase the amount of renewable energy transmitted on the system and prevent power blackouts.

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The rotating stabilisers are being manufactured in Rugby by GE Power Conversion, with steel casting and forging specialist Sheffield Forgemasters manufacturing the key component of the main rotator shaft and hub.

The two machines at Keith are expected to be up and running in autumn 2021, with another project in Liverpool to follow.

Knights Brown is responsible for the design and construction of the civil engineering works.

Andrew Eilbeck, Divisional Director for Knights Brown said: "As the first of its kind in the UK, this is an inspiring project for us to be involved with as part of PowerSystems UK and Statkraft’s supply chain. Statkraft is leading the way in this developing technology that will reduce the costs of generating more renewable electricity and assist in delivering National Grid ESO's target of operating a zero-carbon electricity system by 2025."