As 1-in-50 or 1-in-100-year extreme weather events of the past increase in frequency, and society increasingly depends on electricity for its energy, EPRI is strengthening the power sector’s collective approach to assessing and managing physical climate risk to the power system.
On Monday 11 April, contractors Balfour Beatty finished building 48 of the new T-pylons and connected the wires along a section of the Hinkley Connection route between Bridgwater and Loxton. The completion of the T-pylons marks a major milestone ahead of their energisation in October 2022. The remaining 68 T-pylons will be built between Sandford and Portbury and completed by early 2024.
National Grid and its contractors Balfour Beatty and GE’s Grid Solutions have been working since June 2019 to build a replacement substation for Littlebrook 400 kV substation. The Dartford facility was constructed fifty years ago and was becoming difficult to maintain due to its reliance on a potent greenhouse gas sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), a gas commonly used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and to keep the network safe and reliable.
The team closed off this lane on Monday 7 February to keep everyone safe and now that this work is done they have reopened it.
The completion of this entrance is a significant milestone in the most northerly part of the Hinkley Connection, between Bridgwater and Seabank near Avonmouth, which will connect six million homes and businesses to new sources of low-carbon energy.
The project is still at an early stage of development and this public consultation will give local communities the first opportunity to see the plans and to provide feedback. National Grid will listen carefully to the views of local people and will take their comments into consideration as they develop the proposals in more detail. There will be another opportunity to comment on the proposals before National Grid submits a planning application to the Planning Inspectorate in late 2024.
We started working in the nature reserve in April 2020, modifying Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) electricity network to make way for the new 57 kilometre connection, which will carry low-carbon energy to six million homes across the country.
To date, the work there has involved removing WPD pylons and replacing them with new underground cables, to connect into WPD’s substation situated in the north corner of the reserve. To the east of this substation, our team has built cable ducts in preparation for pulling additional cables, allowing us to remove a further four pylons.
National Grid donated 40 modern laptops to help develop the school’s IT offering. The devices have enabled teachers to deliver a broad IT curriculum that allows pupils to explore their interests and conduct research for projects, fostering new levels of creativity and independence. The students have also learnt a range of new, practical skills, like storing and sharing files with one another.
In the villages of Mark, Watchfield and East Huntspill, a £20,000 grant helped Watchfield Village Hall Trust purchase six solar-powered SIDs, supporting the work of Community Speed Watch volunteers. Local police use the information from these sensors in their investigations to hold speeders to account.
Built in the mid 19th century to house Winscombe and Woodborough Primary School, the buildings were taken over by the WCA in 1979; who has maintained and managed them ever since. It's a major asset for the community.
A wide range of groups have used the centre’s facilities to date, including the Brownies, Nursery School and Toddler Group, and the Bridge and Table Tennis clubs. It's long served as a hub for local activities, celebrations and charity events.