TenneT has signed a long-term contract with BAM Infra Nederland, Strukton Wegen & Beton and VolkerWessels Hoogspanning Civiel to perform civil works for large above-ground high-voltage grid projects in the Netherlands.
The framework agreement has an initial term of four years with three two-year extension options and a maximum value of €2.5 billion. VOLTA Civiel – a partnership of Mourik Infra and Dusseldorp Infra, Sloop en Milieutechniek BV – and Dura Vermeer will take a back-up position.
The rapid growth in the number of wind turbines and solar panels and the further growth in demand for electricity due to more sustainable industry, businesses and consumers require, among other things, rapid expansion of the transmission grid. TenneT is investing some 60 billion euro in the Dutch high-voltage grid over the next 10 years.
To solve and prevent bottlenecks in the high-voltage grid, the grid operator is upgrading a large number of existing overhead high-voltage lines over the next few years, enabling them to transmit at least 30% more electricity. Some 600 kilometres will be involved over the next 10 years. In the same period, TenneT expects to construct some 400 kilometres of new high-voltage lines. This means a tripling of the current work package.
Crucial long-term collaboration
By concluding this framework agreement, BAM Infra Nederland, Strukton Wegen & Beton and VolkerWessels Hoogspanning Civiel, a combination between KWS and Van Hattum & Blankevoort, have been tasked to carry out civil works in these projects.
‘By building long-term relationships with these partners, we can invest in smart working methods together. These kinds of long-term collaborations are crucial in times when acceleration is required. Moreover, they offer certainties for all parties involved. A win-win situation.’
Sjouke Bootsma, director Supply Chain Management
This mainly involves preparing sites for construction, constructing temporary work roads to mast locations, installing and reinforcing more than 1,500 mast foundations and restoring the land and surroundings in a cultural-technical manner. This work will take place before and after the actual reinforcement of existing lines and the construction of new line connections.
TenneT chooses this approach so that the parties specialised in line and mast construction can work as efficiently and quickly as possible. This is necessary because the capacity of these parties is scarce.
Emission-free construction
The partners make every effort to structurally reduce harmful emissions right from the start of the work, for example by deploying equipment that emits fewer emissions (Stage V) and using the new generation of biodiesel (HVO100). This leads to 88% CO2 and 83% particulate matter reductions compared to regular machinery and fuel. In addition, together with the partners, TenneT says they have committed to a transition path leading to completely emission-free construction. Source: TenneT (Quotation is a translation from Dutch)
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