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From multi-million pound network upgrades in Aberdeen to smaller-scale electricity projects in Shropshire, the past week has seen a number of interesting and innovative projects across the sector.

This week also saw Yorkshire Water eliminate all ageing chlorine and sulphur dioxide gas from its water treatment works.

Here is our weekly project roundup:

Northern Powergrid

Northern Powergrid has announced it is nearing completion of a £4 million investment project which will help maintain the reliability of supplies for more than 90,000 customers across Middlesbrough, Redcar, Guisborough and the surrounding areas.

The network operator is currently managing a three-year circuit breaker replacement programme at its Lackenby 66kV Substation.

The project is due for completion in October and has included the design and installation of new electrical equipment, including the supply of 15 66kV dead tank circuit breakers, new protection and control equipment and associated civil and cabling works.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)

SSEN has announced a £10 million network upgrade programme for Aberdeen and the surrounding areas.

The multi-million investment will see new electrical equipment installed across the city, including devices to restore power to customers if and when faults occur.

A total of 10 primary substations are undergoing complete replacement works while a new 33kV cable between Dyce and Kingseat will be installed. Substations dating from the 1960s will be either upgraded or replaced.

Furthermore an £850,000 investment to install automated equipment in 25 secondary substations has also been announced. These will complement the network operator’s main substation investment programme and make the city’s network smarter.

Habitat Energy

Specialist battery optimiser Habitat Energy has been appointed by Arlington Energy to operate a 40MW battery project.

The Greenfield Road project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in October this year.

The battery will be trading in the day ahead, intraday and balancing mechanism markets as well as taking advantage of ancillary service contracts “where attractive to do so”.

Habitat will be providing optimisation services using its algorithmic trading platform ‘PowerIQ’, overseen by its team of asset optimisers based in Oxford.

Habitat says a core part of its service is actively managing the degradation of the battery, looking to extend the life of the battery cells beyond the warranty, and thus improving returns for the asset owner.

Northern Ireland Water

Northern Ireland Water is investing a further £1 million in its wastewater treatment works to fix problems caused by non-flushable items.

The company, which has invested £2.5 million over the past year at the site, is spending the money to replace machinery with work expected to be complete by March 2020.

The company said some of the work had involved upgrading sludge tanks and maintenance of wastewater tanks that were affected.

Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water has completed a £14 million two-year project to eliminate all ageing chlorine and sulphur dioxide gas use from its water treatment works in a bid remove any risk of toxic gas escapes.

The work involved replacement of dosing systems at 10 of its water treatment works.

The water company has replaced the gas disinfection system with a mix of sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulphite chemical dosing systems, which contain only 15 per cent chlorine solution and poses significantly less risk.

Chlorine has been used in UK water treatment since the late 19th century but is being phased out over health and safety fears of a major toxic gas leak.