Drax Ecostore 2013

The redevelopment of Drax coal fired power station in East Yorkshire incorporates the conversion to biomass fuels to reduce the plant’s carbon footprint.

The Ecostore Project comprises four 50m x 50m concrete fuel storage domes. On top of each dome a head house is constructed to connect with the conveyor systems which transfer fuel from train to storage.

Working with HTC Tower Cranes and Hoists for Shepherd Construction Ltd, Unusual Rigging led a project to solve a major accessibility problem – how to get the construction teams to the top of these very large, slippery domes to build the head house and conveyor system.

Utilising their full range of skills, Unusual developed a unique access system:

• The design and fabrication of a 50m high bespoke collar system with an integrated standard tower crane mast to support a crow’s nest landing point for a 15 person hoist
• 3 x 24m bridges based on an Unusual-designed large triangular truss-based product which connect the crow’s nest with the Ecostore domes
• GRP pultruded decking is used for strength and reduced weight and also weatherproofs the complete system against the extreme elements of East Yorkshire
• Modular design enabled quick rigging and break down, plus the utilisation of one bridge for two further domes in second phase of the project.
• The second tower system for two further domes utilises one bridge from first part of project
• De-rigging of the first bridge and tower is scheduled for early 2014 while the other two bridges and tower will remain until the completion of the project during summer 2014.

“Unusual really were the experts here and Mark and his team led the entire project. Shepherds trusted that Unusual Rigging would come up with the goods and they weren’t let down.” Steve Wales, HTC Tower Cranes and Hoists