EDP remains an industry-leading multinational which produces, manages and distributes energy across four main regions globally: Europe, North America, South America and the Asia Pacific. With a clear focus on renewables and decarbonisation, the company is working towards a greener and more sustainable future. EDP Client Solutions platform, part of the EDP Group, their Grid Solutions department are specialised in innovation solutions to their customers to achieve the transformations necessary for sustainable energy infrastructure.
The Grid Solutions department of EDP Client Solutions utilises Ploughing Solutions, an innovative trenchless technology, to install both high voltage evacuation lines and medium voltage circuits. This approach delivers projects on time and provides significant cost savings. Crucially, it achieves a much lower carbon footprint and environmental impact than conventional cable installation methods.
For a 132kV evacuation line project in León, Spain, EDP faced a challenge. The trenchless technology they employed was so efficient at installing underground cables that they needed a cover plate manufacturer capable of meeting multiple demands. Criteria included mechanical protection requirements, environmental and sustainability standards, and product specifications that would maintain installation efficiency.
Traditional concrete protection systems could not keep pace with the speed of the trenchless installation, and their environmental impact conflicted with EDP’s commitment to sustainability. The company required a solution that matched their innovative approach to cable installation while providing heavy-duty mechanical protection for the installed utilities against future excavation works.
Stokbord® Utility Protection by Centriforce proved to be the answer. This cover plate on a roll format met all the required criteria by providing robust mechanical protection while offering the significant benefit of being manufactured from 100% recycled plastic. The product was customised in terms of length, size, thickness, and also featured a printed warning message. All customisations were tailored specifically to the project’s requirements.
The roll format of Stokbord® underground cable protection covers was crucial to the project’s success. Unlike traditional tile-based systems, the roll format eliminated the need for workers to enter trenches repeatedly, improving on-site safety while maintaining the rapid installation pace set by the trenchless technology. This mechanical installation method reduced manual handling and allowed the protection system to be deployed quickly across long cable runs.
The recycled plastic construction of Stokbord® aligned seamlessly with EDP Grid Solutions’ environmental objectives. Where concrete alternatives would have added significant weight, transportation costs and carbon emissions to the project, Stokbord® offered a lightweight, sustainable solution that reduced the overall environmental impact of the infrastructure installation.
The customised warning messaging printed directly onto the protection covers provided clear, permanent identification of the buried utilities, ensuring that future excavation teams would exercise appropriate caution when working in the area.
The collaboration between EDP and Centriforce has produced several notable results:
Stokbord® Utility Protection, made entirely from recycled plastic panels, helped EDP reduce the carbon footprint of their infrastructure project without compromising on the level of protection required for a 132kV installation.
The roll format kept pace with the trenchless technology, preventing delays and maintaining project momentum throughout the cable installation process.
Mechanical installation meant no workers needed to enter the trench, reducing risk and creating better working conditions on site.
Length, thickness and printed messaging were all tailored to the specific demands of the project, providing exactly what was needed for this high voltage application.
Faster installation times, reduced labour hours and lower transport costs delivered tangible savings compared to traditional concrete protection systems.
The project proved that sustainable materials can perform to the same exacting standards as conventional alternatives in demanding utility applications.
EDP confirmed its satisfaction with Stokbord® Utility Protection:
“We are satisfied with the Stokbord product not only because it met all the desired project criteria, but because it contributed to the successful completion of cable installation of the project using trenchless technology and proved innovation and sustainability doesn’t have to cost the earth”.
Márcio Ribeiro – Head of Grid Solutions Spain
We are proud to have supported EDP in delivering this innovative infrastructure project, demonstrating that sustainable solutions can meet the demanding requirements of modern energy transition projects.
Find a Stokbord® distributor for your project. Utilise cable protection covers to enhance safety, and reap the sustainability benefits of using a product made entirely from recycled plastic sheet material.
Or contact us to find out more about working with Centriforce.
