Construction of the world’s longest subsea power cable has passed its halfway point, achieving a major engineering feat on the way. The super-sized cable, known as an interconnector, will span 720km on completion, linking the electricity grids of the UK and Norway.
Our research showed that 83% of women want to help the UK reach its net zero target by 2050, so it’s critical that we break down barriers to ensure they can play their part.
Today (23 June) is International Women in Engineering Day and National Grid is sharing the stories of some of our women engineers.
Nicola Shaw, UK Executive Director at National Grid, says: “The pandemic has exposed the burden of domestic and unpaid work that often falls to women and as we start to build back we have to ensure that these women are not left behind but are given the opportunities and support they need to succeed.”
Research published by National Grid earlier this year showed that the UK’s energy sector will need to fill 400,000 jobs if it’s to meet its target to deliver net zero emissions by 2050. But the under-representation of women, who currently make up just 12% of the engineering workforce in the UK, means the sector is missing out on a full-strength gender balanced workforce.
A project to transform a nationally significant Peak District landscape is one step closer to being realised following a key decision by Barnsley Council.
Plans to replace a section of overhead electricity transmission line with underground cables along the Trans Pennine Trail and in the village of Dunford Bridge have been approved by Barnsley Council, subject to completion of a legally binding agreement which will deliver significant biodiversity improvements.
The past few months have been hugely challenging for both businesses and communities. The far-reaching consequences of COVID-19 cannot be underestimated and we all owe a debt of gratitude to those who have been on the frontline.
...we have not lost sight of our ongoing need to tackle climate change and support the UK through a clean energy transition.
We’ve secured a green loan worth $743 million to finance the Viking Link interconnector. This 760 km undersea electricity cable will connect Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire and Revsing in South Jutland, Denmark to enable us to share clean energy.
The US$743 million ECA-backed financing package, made up of US$488 million from SACE Export Credit and US$255 million from Euler Hermes Export Credit, was structured under National Grid’s Green Financing Framework. This is the first time multiple ECAs have come together to finance a green project of this size.
Across all levels of government, there’s been a call to action for manufacturers to shift production towards the personal protective equipment (PPE), medical and pharmaceutical products needed for COVID-19 patients, health workers and institutions on the frontline of the pandemic.