Major Energy Saving Exercise at RAF Spadeadam

Dedicated services from Powervamp at a respected RAF facility

Powervamp were approached to assist in a major energy saving exercise at RAF Spadeadam. This included the decommissioning, removal and disposal of the existing antiquated and inefficient rotary systems based within the electronic warfare and tactics range.

RAF Spadeadam is the only facility in Europe where aircrews can practise low-level manoeuvres and tactics against a variety of threats and targets that are faced in contemporary warfare. The facility spans 9600 acres of forest and mire on the border of Cumbria and Northumberland and attracts aircraft from the RAF, Army, Navy and NATO Forces.

The survival of aircrews over Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere, and the soldiers on the ground who depend on air support are affected by the training provided by RAF Spadeadam.

‘Powervamp staff were escorted by a member of RAF Spadeadam whenever they made the 21 mile trip into the forest.’

A six-man team of Powervamp engineers were dispatched to undertake the project which required specialist lifting equipment to extract the 13 rotary converters from a number of brick buildings and small outhouses within the site. Soundproofing, night heaters, storm boards and door frames had to be removed to obtain access to the equipment.

Due to the remote location of the converters, lack of mobile phone coverage and the threat of the local poisonous adders that inhabit the area, all Powervamp staff were escorted by a member of RAF Spadeadam whenever they made the 21 mile trip into the forest.

Major Energy Saving Exercise at RAF Spadeadam - Greymare West

RAF Spadeadam – Greymare West missile test area

Powervamp appointed a full-time Health and Safety representative to be present on site for the duration of the project, due to the sensitive nature of the machinery involved. The representative also liaised with the Theatre Controller to arrange the power downtime on the various sectors.

Powervamp had the tools for the job

The project lasted 16 weeks with meticulous planning to allow the coordination of removal and installation of the equipment. Eleven EF33 static frequency converter units were installed in total comprising of 3 x bespoke 250kVA, 1 x 200kVA, 1 x 100kVA, 2 x kVA and 4 x 40Kva.

EF33 SFCPowervamp engineers commissioned the converters and have since reported that RAF Spadeadam are very satisfied with the complete service offered, from initial energy saving calculations through to the seamless integration of the new converters.

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