ESS Provide Bespoke Communications Solution for Safe Construction of Remote Scottish Electricity Pylons

ESS supplied, installed and commissioned radio equipment to ensure effective communication during the construction of new electricity pylons over a 30km stretch in remote Scotland.

The project objectives included delivering uninterrupted VHF radio coverage throughout the work site, ensuring safety compliance to meet all safety and regulatory standards, designing for scalability in future expansion and technology upgrades, and minimising disruption due to the remote location's lack of power sources.

The project presented several key challenges including; Enhanced Communication, achieving seamless VHF radio coverage across the entire work site and access roads. Safety Compliance, ensuring the communications system adhered to all safety and regulatory standards. Scalability, designing a system capable of future expansion and technology upgrades and minimised disruption, addressing the absence of traditional power sources in the remote location. 

During the system design phase, ESS considered several critical factors; 3G/4G Coverage, initial feasibility studies on mobile networks revealed unreliable coverage, leading to the decision to use traditional RF equipment. System Features, ensured the chosen system's suitability for the specific communication needs. Power Supply, developed a hybrid power solution using wind turbines and solar panels to charge large leisure batteries, ensuring a reliable power source in remote locations. Land Topography, assessed terrain impacts on RF propagation to optimise equipment placement. Weather Resistance, designed the system to withstand extreme weather conditions and service Access, ensured ease of access for equipment servicing as needed.

The planning phase identified two strategic locations for placing repeaters to provide optimal coverage. RF propagation modelling confirmed the effectiveness of this set up. By linking the repeaters via Motorola's IP site connect platform, seamless coverage was achieved across the project area, with the system automatically selecting the site with the best signal. To tackle the power supply challenge, ESS implemented a combined wind turbine and solar panel solution. This innovative set up charged large leisure batteries, ensuring continuous power for the radio equipment. The solution incorporated military-grade pump-up masts and strategically deployed repeaters based on RF propagation modelling.

ESS sucessfully delivered a reliable and robust communications solution covering the entire 30km project length. The hybrid power system ensured uninterrupted power supply to the repeater stations. Throughout the hire period, ESS provided comprehensive support, including next-day replacement of faulty units and regular service visits to maintain system performance. Spare batteries were also issued to users to ensure full reliability in cold temperatures.

The tailored communication solution met all project objectives, providing a dependable and effective system for the construction of new electricity pylons in remote Scottish locations. This project highlights ESS's expertise in delivering specialised equipment solutions in challenging environments.

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