As the UK’s largest electricity distribution business, National Grid Electricity Distribution serves nearly eight million customers across the East and West Midlands, the South West of England, and South Wales delivering essential power to millions of homes and businesses across its regions.
It covers an area of 55,500km2 with 90,000km of overhead lines, 135,000km of underground cable and 188,000 transformers.
We’re delighted to welcome our new colleagues from WPD.
Last year, the polecat became trapped overnight in a work area where pylon foundations were being constructed. This left him exposed to the elements and at risk from other predators. Fortunately, the Morrison team discovered the polecat, which was in poor condition and in need of medical attention.
On Friday 22 July, the National Grid team celebrated the latest milestone in our ongoing mission to rewire the capital, as our tunnel boring machine, Caroline, completed her 5.7km journey from Kings Avenue in Lambeth to break through at the London Power Tunnels (LPT) Wimbledon site. This landmark achievement means the northern tunnels, created in the first phase of the project seven years ago, are now connected to those being constructed as part of the second phase in south London.
National Grid has delivered a new 97 tonne transformer which will connect a new trackside substation at Holly Cross to the electricity network, as part of the Bramley Network Rail connection.
The Supergrid transformer at Bramley substation will help Network Rail to future-proof and decarbonise its electrical network.
The project will require major engineering work, with National Grid working with main contractor Hochtief UK to build a new tunnel underneath the estuary to house cables. The team will also construct two separate tunnel head houses located at Garth and Llandecwyn, which have been designed to complement the local landscape.
National Grid’s community grant fund helped 21 people on low incomes get into cycling, with a voucher to purchase a refurbished bike.
The two T-pylons in the reserve, the one near the reserve entrance from Sheepway and one next to Wharf Lane, will be lifted into place by crane in three sections, and fixed to the foundations in the ground. This is programmed to be completed by the end of September 2022. In 2023, visitors will see the diamond-shaped insulators installed and the wires that will carry high voltage, low carbon electricity from Hinkley Point C and other sources hung from the new T-pylons.
National Grid is consulting on changes to the Bramford to Twinstead reinforcement proposals in the western part of the Stour Valley. The consultation will also show smaller changes to the plans across the wider route of the proposed reinforcement. The consultation will run for four weeks from Thursday 8 September to Friday 7 October 2022.
Britain’s national electricity grid is one of the greenest in the world. Record levels of renewable power, including growing volumes of offshore wind, is already connected to our transmission system powering our homes and businesses.