Burnell Switchgear & Control
Pre-installation fit-out streamlines production process
Over the years Burnell’s has commissioned many shipping containers from Portable Space to be used as sub-stations in the solar industry.
View Case StudyFitting out shipping containers to provide switchgear housings for solar power has resulted in electricity reaching remote parts of Eritrea for the first time.
Portable Space were contracted by Burnell Switchgear & Control to convert two 20’ standard height one-trip shipping containers by adding a number of features such as pedestrian doors, air conditioning and insulated walls, as well as rubbing down and repainting the container in white to minimise solar gain.
All conversion work was carried out at Portable Space’s dedicated workshop by its in-house team.
Once completed, the shipping containers were delivered to Burnell’s own UK factory for further modifications such as installing a transformer and connection to the switchgear, fire alarm and CCTV.
Danny Napier, Container Conversions & Modular Buildings Project Manager at Portable Space said: “All aspects of the fit out – by both our own team and our client – had to be compliant with the ISO requirements for shipping, of which we have extensive experience.”
Howard Humphreys, from Burnell added: “This project was described as a model for African rural electrification, with Eritrea launching two solar micro grids to provide grid quality electricity to 40,000 people and businesses in two remote communities in Areza and Ma Dima, where previously there had been no grid power at all”.
Burnell Switchgear & Control is a leading specialist in the design, delivery and installation of bespoke electrical switchgear products used by the energy industry. It has worked with Portable Space on many projects over recent years.
