In a significant move towards sustainability and energy efficiency across HMNB Portsmouth, KBS Maritime has successfully completed the D Substation Replacement and MFW Carpark PV Commissioning project. This initiative, part of a broader strategy to increase self-generation and reduce the carbon footprint, marks a major milestone for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The extensive project involved civil, electrical, and structural work, along with complex health and safety management with two new substations, three switchboards, and two transformers were installed, with approximately 1km of cable laid to connect the solar canopies of a 320-space carpark to the High Voltage (HV) electrical network.
Ensuring the resilience of energy supply to the naval base was crucial. The new substation needed to feed energy to the main pumping station, servicing critical maritime vessels. Additionally, the heritage of the site had to be preserved, with the new substation housed inside a listed building, requiring strict compliance with planning permissions. To minimise damage to the site, the installation was elevated off the ground. Another substation was installed outside the building, connecting the solar panels in the car park to the network, allowing up to 750 kilowatts of solar energy production.
Following installation, all assets were tested and commissioned, bringing the PV Carpark online. These canopies, connected to the Large Scale Battery System (LSBS) outside the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, allow generated power to be stored or used across the Base.
This innovative project has helped the MoD advance its Net Zero targets while enhancing energy resilience at HMNB Portsmouth.