Who is National Grid?

Transcription

1 Who is National Grid? National Grid is a leading international energy infrastructure business In the UK, our business includes electricity and gas transmission networks and gas distribution networks. We own and maintain the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operate the system across Great Britain, taking electricity from power stations and renewable generators to local electricity distribution companies. National Grid s electricity transmission system operates at 400,000 and 275,000 volts. It includes: 22,000 pylons 4,500 miles of overhead lines 420 miles of underground cables (mainly in cities) 337 substations

2 The energy challenge The UK faces a major challenge in meeting projected energy needs over the next few decades while at the same time tackling climate change Current UK peak demand is around 60 gigawatts. The UK has pledged to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 80% by Before then it is committed to reducing emissions A number of power stations are due to close in the next five to ten years. The demand for by generating 20% of our electricity from renewable sources by electricity is forecast to grow slowly over this period which means around 20 gigawatts of new generation will be required to meet demand. National Grid will play a key role in meeting these targets, providing electricity connections and upgrading our transmission system.

3 Galloper Wind Farm connection Sizewell Ipswich Felixstowe Harwich Greater Gabbard Wind Farm Galloper Wind Farm Clacton-On-Sea Kilometr es The challenge The works SSE and RWE npower renewables are proposing to build up to a 504 megawatts wind farm off the Suffolk coast. This wind farm, known as Galloper Wind Farm, will need dedicated onshore substation infrastructure to deliver the electricity into the national transmission system. The solution National Grid plans to build this substation using gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), which will be located in a compound approximately 110m by 70m. Underground cabling will be required to provide connections to and from the substation. No new overhead power lines will be needed as part of this connection although we may need to realign some existing overhead lines. Galloper Wind Farm has signed an agreement with National Grid to connect the wind farm to the electricity transmission system. To ensure that the electricity is transmitted safely, securely and efficiently, National Grid needs to build a new 400,000 volt substation that will receive the electricity from the Galloper substation compound. Example of a GIS substation

4 Transmission system in Sizewell The existing electricity transmission system at Sizewell connects both Sizewell A and B power stations and Greater Gabbard wind farm to the national transmission system Galloper Off-shore Wind Farm Connection - National Grid - Site Options Two 400,000 volt overhead lines take electricity from these generators into the national transmission system and on to Bramford Substation, near Ipswich. KEY 400kV overhead lines Leiston A 132kV substation Sizewell B substation Sizewell A substation Presently National Grid has three substations in the area: Sizewell B power station 400,000 volt substation Leiston A 132,000 volt substation at Sizewell Wents which connects Greater Gabbard wind farm Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Sizewell A power station 132,000 volt substation. National Grid now needs to build an additional 400,000 volt GIS substation to connect the Galloper Wind Farm. Please use the comments sheet to express your views and opinions on the site options. Your views will be taken into account and will help in the final site selection process.

5 National Grid Galloper substation Illustration showing potential layout of onshore transmission system 400kV overhead transmissions lines Leiston A Sizewell A National Grid substation Pylons may require extensions Galloper substation compound Underground cables

6 Galloper Wind Farm site options Two separate substations are required for the onshore connection of the Galloper Wind Farm. A community consultation exercise was held in November 2010 to consult on the location of the potential Galloper substation site. These sites are indicated on this map. Galloper Off-shore Wind Farm Connection - National Grid - Site Options KEY Galloper site options Existing substation - Leiston A Note: Blocks are indicative locations and do not reflect size of compound Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Galloper needs to build a substation compound to clean up the electricity coming from the offshore wind turbines and make it suitable for the national transmission network. National Grid also needs to build a separate substation to transform the electricity to 400,000 volts (it will be coming onshore at 132,000 volts) in order to connect it to the existing 400,000 volt electricity line which takes power out of Sizewell.

7 National Grid substation site options Three site options have been identified as potential locations for the National Grid substation to connect the Galloper Wind Farm Galloper Off-shore Wind Farm Connection - National Grid - Site Options KEY Site options Other potential site options considered Existing substation - Leiston A Note: Blocks are indicative locations and do not reflect size of compound NGB NGA NGN NGM NGI NGF NGC NGJ NGH NGE NGD NGG NGO NGK NGL Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Site selection criteria When selecting potential sites, we consider the impact on the local community and environment. We take into account environmental constraints, proximity to the existing overhead lines and pylons, the location of properties, the impact of the works on the national transmission system and the views of consultees such as Please be aware that each potential location will require connections from the Galloper Wind Farm to the substation and from the substation to the national electricity transmission system. The connections could require changes to the overhead lines, underground cabling or a combination of both. Natural England, English Heritage and local authorities. This consultation will form part of Galloper s process to The three options we have identified are only potential sites and we have yet to select a final preferred site. At this develop its application for development consent, which will be made to the Infrastructure Planning Commission. stage we are asking for the views of the local community. We will then carefully review these comments to help us make an informed decision.

8 tions National Grid substation option NGA KEY Preferred site options Existing substation - Leiston A NGA Note: Blocks are indicative locations and do not reflect size of compound Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Key considerations: On site of Sizewell A substation Within developed area of the power station Within close proximity to existing overhead lines and pylon locations Within Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Pylon works could encroach on SSSI Area not large enough for Galloper compound Would require connection to Galloper site Nearest residential property c300m Brownfield site and Heritage Coast *Land availability still to be confirmed through ongoing discussion with EDF (Sizewell C) and NDA Please use the comments sheet to express your views and opinions on the site options. Your views will be taken into account and will help in the final site selection process.

9 tions National Grid substation option NGH KEY Preferred site options Existing substation - Leiston A Note: Blocks are indicative locations and do not reflect size of compound NGH Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Key considerations: South west of Leiston A substation Within close proximity to existing overhead lines and pylon locations Existing tree planting could screen site from Sizewell Gap Road Pylons either side of Sizewell Gap Road Within Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Would require c300m connection to Leiston A Nearest residential property c300m Possible benefit by accommodating National Grid and Galloper compounds would need to be modified Please use the comments sheet to express your views and opinions on the site options. Your views will be taken into account and will help in the final site selection process.

10 tions National Grid substation option NGI KEY Preferred site options Existing substation - Leiston A Note: Blocks are indicative locations and do not reflect size of compound NGI Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2011 Key considerations: Adjacent to existing Leiston A substation Within close proximity to existing overhead lines and pylon locations Within Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Nearest residential property c400m Could utilise exiting access road Possible benefit by accommodating National Grid and Galloper compounds Levels of surrounding land and woodland backdrop could limit visual impact Pylons either side of Sizewell Gap Road would need to be modified Please use the comments sheet to express your views and opinions on the site options. Your views will be taken into account and will help in the final site selection process.

11 Timeline and next steps The proposals for the National Grid substation will be incorporated in the overall application for development consent order (DCO) for the Galloper Wind Farm. The DCO will be submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) later this year. The Galloper Wind Farm application will cover all works necessary to construct and operate the offshore wind farm, together with underground cable connections and onshore infrastructure, including the Galloper substation compound and the National Grid substation The Crown Estate awards development rights to Galloper Galloper Wind Farm consults on site options for their substation compound National Grid consults site options for substation 2011 Public consultation on the Galloper Wind Farm Submit application to IPC 2012 Application decision by the IPC National Grid substation construction begins 2013 Galloper substation compound construction begins 2014 National Grid substation completed 2015 Galloper onshore works completed 2016 Overall project connection and completion These dates are subject to change

12 Environment and community National Grid is committed to avoiding environmentally sensitive areas wherever possible, and we make every effort to reduce the impact our works may have on the community. The environment Working with the community When planning works such as these, we employ environmental specialists to carry out detailed assessments and recommend appropriate measures to mitigate the impact on landscape and the environment. Throughout construction we continue to work closely with the Environment Agency, Natural England and all other stakeholders. National Grid is committed to working with local people to minimise the effects of our works on the local community. We will be keeping residents informed throughout the project and our specialist community relations team will be available to answer any questions. You can contact the community relations team on