Partner in energy transition

Friso Civiel is traditionally known for building pumping stations, bridges, locks and drinking and sewage water facilities. But did you know that the company is also a solid partner in energy transition? For Liander and TenneT, subcontracted by Qirion or Spie, they are building a large number of substations and mast reinforcements in the coming years to tackle grid congestion. Within the framework contract with Liander, there is a strong focus on safety and plenty of room for further development in order to build substations that are increasingly sustainable and even completely emission-free in 2030.

The framework contract with Liander covers the construction of all substations in the northern Netherlands, says Jan Hogenberg, director of Friso Civiel. "We will build about four to five substations a year for the next eight years, 32 in total. But there may be more to come. We are expected to be flexible. This year, for example, we are suffering from the nitrogen problem for the first time. In certain areas we can easily solve that by building emission-free, such as in Harderwijk and in 't Harde. But that does not work everywhere. The permit process is also not equally flawless everywhere. Nevertheless, we always try to find a solution together with our client."

The complete picture

At a substation, high voltage is converted to low voltage to make electricity usable for households and businesses. Within the framework contract, Friso Civiel builds substations of various sizes, ranging from 10 kV to 150 kV and everything in between. "We provide the complete picture from site preparation to the complete delivery of the shell and site layout including fencing and paving," says Gerwin Boersma, project manager at Friso Civiel. "A substation is a fairly standard product. Often a pile foundation is installed first, and then depending on the foundation, drainage is applied. Then we make the basement one and a half meters below ground level, the walls and pour the floor. On the first floor will come walls of traditional masonry with a roof on top. Within the contours of the building, we provide the arrangement for one or more transformers, depending on the size of the substation, and we provide the building-related installations."

Turning the knobs

Friso Civiel has a framework contract with Liander until 2028. Through Spie Nederland, we are building for TenneT. "That does not mean that the substation and/or distribution station we are building now will still be the same in two years. The basis will not change, but in terms of materialization, we are turning all the knobs," says Hogenberg. "Now we are using a facade brick 10 centimeters wide, later we might go to stone strips. We are also looking at whether we can make the concrete cementless and replace the steel reinforcement bars with basalt bars. In doing so, we are gratefully using the expertise of our construction group and our own precast factory that is experimenting with these kinds of alternative materials."

In addition, Friso Civiel holds safety in high regard. "We are certified for step 4 on the Safety Culture Ladder and also expect our subcontractors to have a high safety awareness, and to come along to further grow this awareness throughout the chain."

We notice that all network operators are facing the same problems as Liander, and are preparing such framework contracts," says Hogenberg. "Of course we are looking at this with a slanted eye, because we still have capacity to expand in the energy market. Furthermore, we have traditionally had a strong focus on the drinking water market in which there are a few things to happen in the coming period. And that also applies to the replacement of bridges. In that area, too, there is a flood of work coming our way. So you won't hear us complaining," Hogenberg concludes with a smile.