Stephen joined National Grid on the Graduate Development programme and was involved in the commissioning of the UK’s first modern LNG terminal at the Isle of Grain. He has also worked with the Grain LNG project team to develop the conceptual design of a project to utilise excess heat generated by the nearby power station.
During his placement, National Grid offered Stephen a full time position on the project team and he is now a mechanical engineer/project engineer for the expansion work at the Grain LNG terminal and the heat transfer pipeline project.
Stephen’s work varies depending on the project. His role on the heat transfer pipeline involves working with the project team and specialist contractor to develop technical specifications for the project. The pipeline is a 4.5 km pipeline, built to transport waste heat from a nearby power station. The LNG expansion project is currently under construction and Stephen is involved in attending factory tests for the machinery before it is delivered to site.
Day-to-day Stephen spends time replying to technical queries, attending project meetings, or reviewing documents and drawings to ensure the projects meet specifications. On the expansion project, he carries out site visits to keep on track of activities taking place, maintaining a balanced mix of office and site based work.