Energising a historic London landmark
Electricity and infrastructure support, adoption, and ongoing management
Electricity
Battersea Power Station Development
London, UK
The challenge
Provision of electricity and infrastructure support, and adoption and ongoing management of electrical supply.
The £9bn regeneration project is transforming the iconic Battersea Power Station into a vibrant, mixed-use development. Given the site’s historical significance as a Grade II listed building, the project involved numerous challenges, especially in preserving the heritage structure while delivering modern infrastructure solutions. Our involvement began after the completion of the first phase, bringing in our expertise, especially in dealing with complex infrastructure like basement substations.
We leveraged our prior experience at Wood Wharf, where we successfully delivered basement substations in a similarly complex environment. This project further demonstrated our ability to handle complex regeneration efforts while complying with regulatory and heritage building restrictions.
42 acres
comprising 8 phases
25,000
Population
3M sq ft
Commercial and residential space
36
Basement substations
The solution
The customer’s primary need was the installation of basement substations to maximise usage of high-value land.
The basement substations were essential for saving costs on high-value land, which would otherwise have been needed for above-ground solutions.
Our role involved:
- Getting 36 substations into basement locations, critical to the project’s success given the land prices in the area.
- Mitigating the high land cost risk that could have jeopardised the project if an above-ground approach had been necessary.
- Drawing from our previous success at Wood Wharf, where we delivered complex basement substations, providing a cost-effective and space-efficient solution.
Project Coordination and Flexibility
The Battersea project was highly dynamic, with numerous teams working on different aspects simultaneously. Coordination was essential to avoid delays and costly reworks:
- Working with Inherited Elements: As we joined after the first phase, we worked with the existing infrastructure. This required us to adapt our approach, such as utilizing cable tags to improve diagnostic speeds and expedite repair and maintenance. The unified visual code we implemented streamlined the process for all teams involved.
- Innovative Solutions: Our team demonstrated flexibility and innovation by adapting when it was safe and commercially advantageous to do so. We developed solutions tailored to the unique challenges of a Grade II listed building while ensuring safety and compliance.
- Avoiding Delays: By maintaining strong communication with the Battersea Power Station team, we ensured work was carried out in an orderly fashion, reducing the risk of reworks or unnecessary delays. Our proactive coordination kept the project on track and within budget.
Engineering Solutions to keep everything on track
We delivered several key engineering innovations that added value and efficiency to the project:
- Circuit Breakers to Fuses: We replaced standard circuit breakers with fuses, limiting the impact of any power outages. This reduced the outage impact from 100% to a maximum of 33%, minimizing customer minutes lost and ensuring continuity of service wherever possible.
- Temporary Private Network: When sub-standard cables were identified, replacement would have delayed the project by 3-4 months. To mitigate this, we established a temporary private network, maintaining safety and allowing the project to progress without the need for additional transformers. This saved valuable time and money while ensuring project continuity.
- Load management: Our experience in load management was vital in maintaining efficiency while working within the constraints of the project. This allowed for progress on other parts of the project while addressing issues with the substandard cables.
- Adherence to restrictions: Given the site’s Grade II listed status, all our engineering solutions were in strict compliance with the additional regulations required for historic preservation.
Value added by our Strategic Projects team
Our Strategic Projects team, with 400 years of combined industry experience, played a pivotal role in ensuring the project’s success:
- Senior Roles with Decision-Making Authority: Key members of our team were empowered to make on-the-spot decisions, ensuring there were no delays due to bureaucratic approvals. Direct access to C-level executives enabled rapid decision-making when needed coupled with well-established protocols with our back-office functions.
- Consistent Presence: The same team members were present on-site, at meetings, and on calls throughout the project. This fostered deep relationships and a sense of continuity and accountability. Our team was not only visible but embedded within the wider project delivery ecosystem, providing expertise and support when required.
- Proactive Problem Solving: Our expertise allowed us to foresee issues before they became problems, implementing solutions in real-time. This proactive approach saved time and avoided potential setbacks.
- Team Coordination: Our team rallied the various elements of the project—from legal and commercial departments to the on-site teams involved in energizing the station. This holistic approach helped glue together disparate elements and ensured project alignment.
The results
Our involvement in the Battersea Power Station project underscores our ability to deliver complex infrastructure within challenging environments.
By offering innovative engineering solutions, a flexible approach to project coordination, and proactive problem-solving, we’re contributing to the successful redevelopment of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.
Basement substations
Successful installation of 36 substations in basement locations, vital to the project’s cost-effectiveness and space efficiency.
Innovative engineering solutions
Prevented significant project delays by implementing the temporary private network and optimizing load management, saving months of potential downtime.
Compliance and safety
All solutions were delivered in line with the Grade II listed building’s restrictions, ensuring historical preservation while modernizing infrastructure.
“Leep's expertise and willingness to assist has ensured works, no matter how complex, are completed on time and in a safe manner. Having Leep on site weekly and engaging in our operation calls has helped us to plan, mobilise, and overcome technical issues before they impact the development. Their site and technical knowledge have helped me with the delivery of new phases and infrastructure as well as providing much needed support on technical tenant issues."
James Ward – Technical Services Director – Battersea Power Station Development Company
Your trusted partner for last mile solutions
At Leep Utilities, we’re more than just a utility provider – we’re your partner in building the future. With proven delivery, innovative multi-utility solutions, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction, we ensure every project is a success.
art'otel
Delivering power in central London always comes with its unique hurdles. Leep Utilities leveraged its expertise to deliver tailored, innovative, proven solutions that ensured the project’s success.
Canada Water
With a masterplan like no other, both in scope and complexity, delivered a comprehensive and proactive solution for this ambitious project.
MediaCityUK
Leep took full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Energy Centre and heat network, including lifecycle replacement of assets up to the network’s interface points.
