Customer success stories

Gaasperdammertunnel, Amsterdam

Sustainable electricity supply in the Netherlands’ longest land tunnel

Together with TKH and Hitec Power Protection, Eaton has installed an ultramodern, safe and sustainable electrical energy supply in the Gaasperdammertunnel, which at three kilometres is the longest land tunnel in the Netherlands.

Facts and figures about the Gaasperdammertunnel:

Capacity for 150,000 cars per day
3 kilometres long
73 metres wide
5 tunnel tubes
11 lanes
322,000 m³ of concrete poured

1,900 sheet piles
10,000 piles
1,800 kilometres of electricity cables
90 low-voltage panels
6 transformers
7 medium-voltage switchgear

Commissioned by and in collaboration with IXAS A9 Gaasperdammerweg B.V., three companies under the name of HEAT have designed the emergency power supply, cabling and switchgear for a challenging infrastructure project: the Gaasperdammertunnel. While Hitec Power Protection focused on the emergency power supply and TKF – part of TKH – delivered 1,800 kilometres of electricity cable for the tunnel, Eaton took care of the implementation of 6 transformers, 7 medium-voltage switchgear installations and 90 low-voltage distribution systems.

Challenge

Tunnels are particularly complex infrastructural works where many technical installations come together, such as ventilation, lighting, fire protection and traffic management systems – installations that consume a lot of energy and in which the most sustainable solution must be constantly examined. Eaton, as a business partner and supplier of IXAS A9 Gaasperdammerweg B.V., has been involved in the Gaasperdammertunnel project and contributed to the design of its energy network. In addition, Eaton, in cooperation with TKH and Hitec Power Protection, had to find a good balance in the design based on the motto “best for project”. This had to be reflected in working with standardised products, so that no project-specific adjustments were necessary.

Solution

Under the name of HEAT, Hitec, Eaton and TKH created a unique engineering combination specifically for this project. The three manufacturers – each with their own specialisation – joined forces and participated in the design process of IXAS from the start of the engineering phase. Thanks to this early participation, it was possible to integrate the technical installations optimally into the infrastructure. Eaton has equipped the Gaasperdammertunnel with FMX and Eaton Xiria SF₆-free medium-voltage installations, which are flexible systems that can be expanded at any time. For this project, Eaton designed 90 low-voltage distributors, seven medium-voltage switching installations and six transformers, as well as providing the logistics and installation. The electrical energy – 10,000 volts – goes through medium-voltage installations, the distribution network and transformers to low-voltage main distributors, after which it is further distributed to sub-distributors.

Unlike most systems, FMX and Xiria installations do not use the greenhouse gas SF₆. Instead, they switch using an environmentally friendly vacuum technology. This is ideal for underground industries such as tunnels because emissions of toxic gases are prevented in the event of an emergency. In addition, the system that has been designed performs optimally with the lowest possible energy consumption, thanks to facilities such as LED lighting and high-efficiency transformers.

Results

Engineering is much more than mere product knowledge. Thanks to the collaboration within the consortium and with IXAS, it has been possible to seamlessly connect all installations. The novelty of setting up a partnership in the field of such a large, technical installation was therefore seen as very successful, both by the client and by the three collaborating parties in ‘HEAT’.