At National Grid Electricity Transmission (ET), we’re well aware of the vital role innovation can play in accelerating progress towards net zero. It’s reflected in everything from the technology in our major projects – see our innovative new T-pylons – to the way we work with our supply chain to deliver a decarbonised future network.
Significant progress has already been made towards transforming the electricity system with a huge expansion in clean energy. However, a rapid increase in the volume of projects wanting to plug in to the transmission network has led to a massively oversubscribed grid connections pipeline. The connections pipeline has reached unsustainable levels. In fact, it now contains three times more than the net zero requirement forecasted in even the most ambitious of net zero scenarios for the transmission network out to 2050.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) isn’t just for school. It’s the building blocks of innovation and discovery and can be explored in fun and exciting ways with simple experiments and challenges.
We’ve also teamed up with FunKids to offer a £100 Lego voucher for the best pylon design as part of activity one. Find out more on the Fun Kids website.
The energisation sees 2.5km of new high voltage 275kV network made live between Hurst substation and Crayford – a tunnel route averaging 35 metres below ground which was completed by Christine the tunnel boring machine last year.
As part of the UK’s annual Festival of Archaeology, local residents and history enthusiasts alike were invited to a family friendly drop-in event at Devizes Town Hall to learn about the fascinating finds that have been discovered. Visitors were able to see a bone comb that was most likely used in wool production and slag fragments which suggest metal working activities. Lead bullets and a 3-inch 4-pound iron cannonball were also on display, discovered close to Roundway Hill, thought to date from the Battle of Roundway Down in 1643.
National Grid is currently replacing the cables that run underground between Dinorwig Power Station and its substation in Pentir. Through its Community Grant Programme, it supports local projects, charities and community groups that provide social, economic or environmental benefits.
Sitting at a cross road between different conductor routes, this junction tower is an important part of the project. It supports overhead electricity conductors coming from T-pylons, as well as those that run from Bridgwater substation. In addition, the lattice pylon supports the overhead conductors which run from Shurton substation at Hinkley Point. Lastly this pylon also supports an optical ground wire installed from Shurton substation, Bridgwater substation and a T-pylon in the area.
All 116 T-pylons were completed in April and, with the 14 capsules all now placed inside, participating schools were entered into a prize draw. The result is that East Huntspill Primary Academy situated on the south of the Hinkley Connection route and St Anne’s Church Academy, Hewish, on the north have both been awarded £1,000 by National Grid.
Starting at the Millenium White Horse, the five mile walk followed the path across Roundway Hill and the site of the Battle of Roundway Down before joining the Mid Wiltshire Way towards Beacon Hill and Oliver’s Castle.
Along the way the 16-strong group of walkers were able to see for themselves the progress being made and positive impact the project will have on the landscape by viewing the 4.6km of overhead line and pylons that will be buried underground.
The drop-in event, which took place at Seaham Hall, connected potential suppliers from across the Seaham area, County Durham and the North East with EGL1’s main works contractors Metlen, Murphy Group, GE Vernova and Prysmian.
EGL1 is a two-gigawatt high voltage direct current electrical superhighway to be built between the Torness area in East Lothian and Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, via the North Sea. It is designed to transport enough electricity for two million homes.