Fluvius completes expansion works at Aalst substation
Network operator Fluvius has completed the renewal and expansion works at the substation on Erembodegemstraat in Aalst. The works follow the comprehensive refurbishment of the high-voltage section by transmission system operator Elia. The substation, a key interconnection point between Elia’s high-voltage grid and Fluvius’s distribution network, is now fully equipped to meet the rising demand for electricity from the city and the surrounding area.
Targeted investment to create capacity on the electricity grid
The works at the ‘Aalst centrale cabine 2’ substation are linked to the redevelopment of the Denderkaaien by the city of Aalst. The buildings of the old power station, adjacent to the current TS, were demolished to make way for residential development. However, this also meant that part of Elia’s installation had to be relocated, whilst the capacity of the high-voltage transformers was increased at the same time.
Fluvius took advantage of these modifications to also reinforce the underlying electricity grid, thereby preparing it for further electrification of Aalst and the surrounding area. Simultaneously, part of the electrical installation was moved underground.
“The total transformer capacity at the site increased from 120 to 150 MVA (megavolt-amperes) via three transformers of 50 MVA each, which is a significant upgrade,” says Dirk D’Haeseleer, Team Leader for Electricity Networks at Fluvius. “These transformers supply our 15-kilovolt network, which extends to end customers and which we have now been able to expand significantly with eight new feeder lines. This represents a significant boost to the electricity supply to Aalst and the borough of Moorsel, as well as to the industrial estates of Erpe-Mere and Erembodegem. The investment ensures that the electricity grid in Aalst is ready for the future. This means that households, businesses and the city of Aalst can continue to rely on a reliable energy supply in the coming years.”
“This upgrade is also crucial in the context of the increasing pressure on the electricity grid,” says Lotte Van der Stockt, Head of Community Communications at Elia. “Through the joint investments by Elia and Fluvius, we are increasing available capacity and reducing the risk of grid congestion in the region. However, the work is not yet complete; we are seeing a significant rise in demand for electricity in the region, including from businesses. We will continue to invest in the coming years to prepare Aalst and the region for the future.”
What is a substation?
Fluvius’s 260 transformer stations form part of the backbone of the electricity grid in Flanders. In 235 of these substations, the ‘high-voltage’ electricity supplied by grid operator Elia is safely distributed (or ‘switched’) to the underlying electricity networks, each at a medium-voltage level of 10, 11, 12, 15 or 30 kilovolts (and in some parts of Flanders also 36 and 70 kilovolts). From there, they supply businesses and homes, right up to your door.
Eef De Vos