This year, we will complete the construction and connection of T-pylons between Bridgwater and Sandford substation, which involves hanging of the wires and energising them. Working with our contractors, Balfour Beatty, we have started work to build a new overheard connection between Sandford and Seabank substations as well, featuring T-pylons and also lattice pylons in Avonmouth.
In the first week of February, National Grid welcomed several aspiring engineers to the site of the Hinkley Connection Project to see, first-hand, how the project to provide the low-carbon energy of the future and power six million homes and businesses is being delivered.
The field is close to a number of homes with little to no outdoor space and is well used by families for their outdoor fun. The old play equipment, including a wooden Burma bridge and wobble board, was dated, uninspiring and in need of replacement.
In August 2021, our contractors J Murphy and Sons finished installing 10.5 kilometres of 132 kV underground cables between the west end of Nailsea and Portishead substation. Laid out, these cables are a distance of 63 kilometres.
Building on this work, the team has since energised two circuits, meaning they are now in service.
National Grid contractors, Morrison Energy Services, have installed the transmission towers that are capable of carrying high-voltage energy, bringing the Hinkley Connection Project a step closer to connecting 6 million homes and businesses to low-carbon energy from the South West.
The team began construction works on the 13 pylons in February 2021, connecting the existing Hinkley Point B station to the new Shurton substation and realigning overhead transmission lines to it.
Since starting in February 2021, teams have pulled a total of 102km cables (the distance between Bridgwater and Gloucester). The cables were delivered on 108 separate cable drums. Each drum held approximately 1km of cable, weighed between 35-50 tonne and stood 5 metres high. Next follows a programme of jointing and testing, with energisation expected in Autumn this year. Reinstatement of the land is already underway on different parts of the route. The Mendip cables section of the Hinkley Connection Project will be fully complete by the end of 2024.
Since starting in February 2021, teams have pulled a total of 102km cables (the distance between Bridgwater and Gloucester). The cables were delivered on 108 separate cable drums. Each drum held approximately 1km of cable, weighed between 35-50 tonne and stood 5 metres high. Next follows a programme of jointing and testing with energisation expected in Autumn this year. Reinstatement of the land is already underway on different parts of the route. The Mendip cables section of the Hinkley Connection Project will be fully complete by the end of 2023.
A science-based target is a target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions that is set based on the level of reduction that science says is required to prevent the effects of climate change. Basing these targets on 1.5°C climate change scenarios means that they are based on the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious goal.
SF6 is a gas commonly used in the electricity industry to prevent short circuits and to keep the network safe and reliable.