TenneT opts for combination Bilfinger Tebodin, Petersburg Consultants an Witteveen+Bos

Bilfinger Tebodin, Petersburg Consultants, and Witteveen+Bos have been awarded a framework agreement by TenneT. The agencies will support TenneT, which is responsible for the national distribution of electricity, throughout a large-scale assignment for replacement of assets at high-voltage stations.

Electricity networks (grids) in Western Europe need to be replaced. Decentralized generation, as part of the energy transition, demands other, heavier network configurations for high voltage. TenneT will invest more than 5 billion euros in this replacement process over the next ten years. For one of the three regions in the Netherlands, the South region, TenneT has selected the combination of the three agencies for the realization.

Safety and quality
TenneT opted specifically for this combination due to the high ambitions with regard to safety and the high quality. In addition, the combination will also contribute to the standardization and harmonization of processes and various risk assessments within TenneT.

Scope of the contract
The framework contract for the consultancy- and engineering activities for 'Maintenance and Preservation' is for the major replacement assignment that is within TenneT’s remit. The contract is for a period of two years, with an option to extend up to eight years. Under this agreement, the combination will support TenneT in all consultancy activities around the replacement of assets at the high-voltage substations.

Continuity of electricity supply
TenneT is the Dutch Transmission System Operator (TSO) and operator of the national high-voltage grid with a voltage level of 110 kV. These grids connect all Dutch regional networks with each other and the European grid. In addition, TenneT monitors the reliability and continuity of the Dutch electricity supply. This continuity must be guaranteed, even though the energy transition requires changes to the grid. For example, through decentralized generation.

Replacement assets
For the South region, the combination of the three agencies will develop engineering packages for the preventive and corrective replacements of the various assets at the high-voltage stations. Within these engineering packages, the combination carries out inspections as to the current condition, carries out design work, and generates specifications, so that the replacement of the selected components can be carried out safely and efficiently by a contractor. The assets to be replaced are primary (from transformers, to circuit breakers), secondary (from control, to telecommunication systems) and tertiary components of a station.