The new substation replaces the facility from the 1950s and has been built to ensure a stable power supply for Oslo, Bærum and the wider Viken region. The station is located directly above the Bjørnegård Tunnel on the E16, which has made the project technically demanding and placed strict requirements on foundation works, mass handling, and coordination.
Client
Statnett
Construction period
April 2021
-
March 2024
Contract value
40 MNOK
Enterprise format
Totalentreprise 8407
Geography
Sandvika, Bærum kommune
The project involved extensive groundwork associated with the construction of a new, compact, gas‑insulated transformer station. The site lies primarily on bedrock, which was excavated by hydraulic breaking. An extensive pile foundation , more than 100 piles, was installed to ensure proper load transfer and long‑term stability.
The transformer section of the station stands on existing concrete piles located very close to the Bjørnegård Tunnel, requiring precise coordination of both earthworks and structural construction.
In addition, MD’s groundwork formed part of the establishment of a concrete beam‑grid structure, which acts as a load‑bearing system between the station and the tunnel infrastructure below. The work was carried out within a very confined area, requiring continuous coordination with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen), which completed its E16 works immediately prior to the project start.
The building structure is constructed in concrete and partially clad with Cembrit panels, with insulation standards adapted to the different functional zones of the facility. The new station is divided between Statnett (420 kV) and Elvia (132 kV and 47 kV), mirroring the configuration of the electrical installations.
The facility is situated in a highly constrained area surrounded by extensive infrastructure — roads and tunnels, a vulnerable salmon river, and protected buildings — leaving very limited space for site setup, storage and equipment movements. This placed strict requirements on detailed HSE planning, progress planning, and continuous coordination across all disciplines.