National Grid today announces the completion of its Richborough Connection project, a new high-voltage electricity line between Richborough and Canterbury. After pausing work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the final stages of work are now complete which involved the removal of an existing UK Power Networks line.
National Grid and its Peak East project team have introduced a wide range of measures to make the landscape enhancement project they are working on in South Yorkshire more sustainable.
Rainwater harvesting and eco-friendly lighting towers are just two of the efforts made by the project team as they work to remove a section of overhead electricity line and replace it with an underground electricity connection in the Peak District National Park at Dunford Bridge.
Every state school within the six local authorities impacted by the Hinkley Connection Project can apply for a £500 or £1250 grant for every year of the project.
With headteachers already under pressure due to the pandemic, in the past two years schools that have applied previously have been awarded a grant automatically, without the need for a fresh application.
If ports are to meet their net zero targets, the demand for clean energy will need to be increased and ports will likely need completely new connections to the electricity transmission network.
Why is it important for ports to reach net zero?
The Maritime sector is responsible for 5% of UK transport emissions, with diesel fuel predominantly used to power vehicles and equipment.
To continue serving the community and providing a hub for generations to come, Avonmouth Community Centre needed to become more financially resilient. The team at the community centre knew the way to achieve this was to provide more flexible spaces, which could be hired out to local people, groups and community organisations. The grant helped fund the creation of a fantastic new self-contained art room and refreshments area, which local people are already putting to good use.
Western Link is an example of the innovative infrastructure and bold vision required for Britain to reach its net zero goals, delivering green energy to where it’s needed and enabling a more efficient electricity system.
Since becoming operational it has allowed the transfer of renewable electricity to supply the demand of more than two million homes every year. It’s expected to continue to deliver for decades to come, boosting the UK’s net zero ambitions at the same time as saving money for consumers.
The grant will help the centre provide support to at-risk young people aged between 11-19 from the local high school identified as being at risk of exclusion and/or with additional special needs. Young people will be provided guidance from a part-time mentor, paid for with the funding from National Grid.
Additionally, the funding has helped pay for a part-time member of staff to provide support for young families and new mums attending the centre’s soft play.
The works started in Autumn 2020 and involved putting concrete and steel piles into the ground to support the 48 T-pylons and 5 traditional lattice pylons that are to be built in this section. The completion in November marks a major milestone for the project.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) has partnered with Siemens to create a free online tool to help UK ports meet their net zero targets. With the support and guidance from the British Ports Association (BPA), the decarbonisation tool will help ports forecast the future infrastructure required to meet potential increased demand for electricity from zero emission port operations.
Tim Robbins, Lead Project Manager for National Grid, accepted the award and said: “We’re delighted to accept this award. It recognises National Grid’s ambition to use the Hinkley Connection Project to inspire future generations and leave a lasting legacy for the communities we are working closest to.”
Two flagship initiatives of Engineering Positive Futures are the Hinkley Connection Education Fund and Adult Skills programme.