New solar powered cabin at National Grid Hinkley Connection reduces emissions by 86 per cent

Striving towards a cleaner and greener future, National Grid Hinkley Connection project team has developed a new solar powered cabin that reduces emissions by 86 per cent.

Helping to tackle climate change, the state-of-the-art security cabin has been installed in Shurton, West Somerset, where National Grid’s contractor – Babcock are completing overhead line works.  The cabin will help reduce the Hinkley Connection Project’s environmental impact during construction.

Using solar power and composite materials to retain the heat, the EcoSecure hut, developed and provided by Remote Surveillance, is entirely self-sufficient in terms of energy. It reduces CO2 emissions by 86 per cent a day when compared with security welfare vans.

The cabin features an insulated base and double glazing, and its composite walls retain the heat so efficiently that even in winter, only the lowest heat setting is required to maintain a comfortable working environment.

James Goode, Project Director for National Grid Hinkley Connection Project, said, “Solar powered cabins are just one example of sustainable changes across the Hinkley Connection Project. National Grid promotes collaborative forms of working, and this certainly plays a role in supporting the green agenda on site. We’re proud to work alongside partners like Babcock, that champion sustainable solutions and deliver for people and planet.”

Wale Ilori, Project Manager at Babcock, said, “The cabin needs no additional external sources of power. “It can supply sufficient power for everything we need, including lighting, heating, a kettle, a microwave and USB points, as well as the necessary security equipment.”

Wale added: “The EcoSecure cabin is only one of the developments we’re introducing to keep emissions low and help the environment, with electric vehicle chargers and a rainwater harvesting system also now in place.”

The Hinkley Connection project will be ready to connect to Hinkley Point C by the end of 2024, with the project complete at the end of 2025, helping the UK reach net zero targets. Six million UK homes and businesses will be supplied with low-carbon energy from the Hinkley Point Connection. 249 overhead power lines in the South West will be replaced with 116 cutting-edge t-pylons and 8km of underground cables through the Mendip Hills, creating clear views of this beauty spot for the first time in a generation.

For further information on the project click here.