Inch Cape super grid transformers arrive in East Lothian this month
Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm’s Cockenzie substation site will take delivery of two 610 Megavolt-ampere (MVA) super grid transformer units this month – amongst the largest power transformers ever installed in Scotland.
The transformers have been transported from Austria across Europe to Rotterdam Port where they were transferred to a vessel to sail to the Port of Leith, arriving on Thursday 9 January 2025. The first transformer will leave Leith Port on a special long wheel-base vehicle around 9pm on Sunday 12 January and is due to arrive at the substation site between 11pm on Sunday and 1am on Monday 13 January. The early hours timeslot is required due to the fact that no movements are permitted from Leith Port before 9pm.
The second transformer will follow a week later, leaving the port at the same time on Sunday 19 January and with a similar arrival time, depending on progress.
The vehicle is 82 metres long with a rigid length of 59 metres, and the total weight is around 470 tonnes, which means it will be classified as an ‘abnormal load’ and will require an escort from Police Scotland.
Over the past 18 months, extensive road route and bridge surveys were conducted by structural engineers and approvals sought from all the relevant authorities to finalise the route the transformers will take. Due to the size and weight of the transformers and girder frame transportation required to move them only one route proved viable.
The route the transformers will follow is along the A1, then A198 at Bankton Junction, on to the B6371 before turning on to the B1348 (Edinburgh Road) at the junction with East Lorimer Place. See map of route opposite.
Due to the length and breadth of the vehicles used to move the super grid transformers there will be parking restrictions in place along East Lorimer Place and Edinburgh Road from 8pm on Sunday 12 January to 6am on Monday 13 January.
The same traffic parking restrictions will then be in place from 8pm on Sunday 19 January to 6am on Monday 20 January .
NOTE: This second delivery was postponed due to resourcing and will now take place on Saturday 25 January via the same route, leaving Port of Leith at 2100. The same parking restrictions will apply.
At a number of points existing street furniture and other nearby infrastructure on the delivery routes will require temporary removal or modification. This includes the temporary removal of a 20 metre long row of hedge planting at the East Lorimer Place/B1348 Road junction which is to be replanted immediately at Drummhor Cemetery to ensure continued growth. A replacement hedge will be planted at the site in February once all the works are complete.
The night time deliveries have been planned to cause minimal disruption to the community but the Inch Cape project team apologises in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused during the activity.
The vehicle and its load are shown in the graphic below:
