Much of the high-voltage electricity network between the North of England and the Midlands was built in the 1960s. At that time, it was designed to carry electricity from large coal and nuclear power stations that were built inland, mainly in the North and Midlands.
Because of this, very little electricity equipment was built in some other areas, such as along the coast. This means there is currently limited capacity to connect new power sources in those places. Even today, most electricity on this part of the network still flows from the North to the South.
The UK Government wants to reach 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power by 2030. To support this, the electricity network between the North of England and the Midlands will need to carry much more power. By 2033, it is expected to need to move around 26 GW of electricity, compared with 11.6 GW today.
This extra demand will put pressure on the current network. Because of this, upgrades in the Midlands have been identified as necessary. The development of the three new substations will help keep the electricity system safe, reliable and affordable in the long term.
Where is the project?
The Brinsworth to High Marnham project involves building three new substations – one near Brinsworth, in Rotherham in South Yorkshire; one near Chesterfield in Derbyshire and a third in High Marnham, near Normanton on Trent in Nottinghamshire - to enable us to uprate the existing electricity transmission network from the existing 275 kV overhead lines to 400 kV. This will ensure that we continue to deliver electricity safely, reliably and efficiently to the customers and communities we serve - all while working towards building a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system for the future.
Get in touch
Do you have questions about the project? Or would you like to register your interest for us to keep in touch? Contact our Community Relations Team:
Email: [email protected]
Freephone: 0800 073 1047 Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm (An answering service is in place outside of these times)
Write to us: FREEPOST National Grid Projects (JBP) (no stamp or additional address information required)
You can also register your details to receive email updates on the project:
If you think our proposals could affect your land, please contact the Brinsworth to High Marnham Land Referencing Team at Ardent. You can call 0203 693 2500 or email [email protected] Alternatively, you can write to Ardent, 36-38 Botolph Lane, London, EC3R 8DE.