In a move that will alarm campaigners and communities, the energy regulator Ofgem has today launched a consultation on bringing forward key parts of the Norwich to Tilbury scheme to 2027.
With a mix of AC and DC subsea cables, all onshore cables buried, no new lines of pylons, any new substations required will be shared with other developments and HVDC converter station in a brownfield industrial area, while it’s not an integrated offshore grid, it’s a pretty decent design and not just the cheapest
Thanks for sharing. It’s far preferable to what we’re seeing in the East and passages like point 4 on page 7 give me broader hope. I’ve little knowledge of existing transmission capacity in the area but avoiding new pylons is impressive and a big plus for communities there. As you say, not an offshore grid but a step in a better direction. We do seem to have been doubly bitten in the east by being at the forefront of all this but also being excluded from the HND. Instead we were part of the ‘early opportunities’ work, which yielded nothing of consequence.
South Wales already has two lines of double circuit pylons that run from Pembroke into England the full length of the south Wales coast. This will use those without having to add any new ones or even uprate any sections
In Devon existing lines need uprating
It will need new substations but those have already been announced for other projects
Am I correct in thinking that any decisions that have made “acceleration opportunity” possible are entirely made by NGET? So they have made a decision that makes planning approval almost inevitable?
In short, yes - because this would be incredibly hard to unpick. Looking at the elements they propose building early (presumably through a combination of permitted development and TCPA applications) it may still be possible to have an HVDC underground alternative *but* that would require a delay of the wider scheme until 2034, which seems unlikely given the acceleration of these components.
Just seen the recommended design for 4.5 GW coming ashore from the Celtic Sea
https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/324006/download
With a mix of AC and DC subsea cables, all onshore cables buried, no new lines of pylons, any new substations required will be shared with other developments and HVDC converter station in a brownfield industrial area, while it’s not an integrated offshore grid, it’s a pretty decent design and not just the cheapest
Thanks for sharing. It’s far preferable to what we’re seeing in the East and passages like point 4 on page 7 give me broader hope. I’ve little knowledge of existing transmission capacity in the area but avoiding new pylons is impressive and a big plus for communities there. As you say, not an offshore grid but a step in a better direction. We do seem to have been doubly bitten in the east by being at the forefront of all this but also being excluded from the HND. Instead we were part of the ‘early opportunities’ work, which yielded nothing of consequence.
South Wales already has two lines of double circuit pylons that run from Pembroke into England the full length of the south Wales coast. This will use those without having to add any new ones or even uprate any sections
In Devon existing lines need uprating
It will need new substations but those have already been announced for other projects
Am I correct in thinking that any decisions that have made “acceleration opportunity” possible are entirely made by NGET? So they have made a decision that makes planning approval almost inevitable?
In short, yes - because this would be incredibly hard to unpick. Looking at the elements they propose building early (presumably through a combination of permitted development and TCPA applications) it may still be possible to have an HVDC underground alternative *but* that would require a delay of the wider scheme until 2034, which seems unlikely given the acceleration of these components.
It’s starting to feel like more than just pre-determination of the solution, but actively eliminating any alternatives