UK: National Grid Launches Consultation on Low-Carbon Energy Sources Connection

National Grid has begun its first stage of consultation on proposals to connect new sources of low-carbon electricity generation in North Wales. A new nuclear power station at Wylfa and an offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea are being proposed by Horizon Nuclear Power and Celtic Array respectively. These need connecting to the electricity network by National Grid so the power they will generate can be used by homes and businesses.

In the coming years, many older power stations around the country are closing, and new generation is needed to take their place.

Almost 90,000 households and businesses on the Isle of Anglesey and in Gwynedd will receive a copy of National Grid’s ‘Project News’ newsletter, which sets out its initial proposals to connect these new sources of energy. It is now keen to listen to the views of people living locally.

National Grid is holding a number of exhibitions across Anglesey and Gwynedd from 20 October, where members of the team will be on hand to explain the proposals in more detail and answer questions.

After an extensive process of evaluation, National Grid has identified its preferred option to connect the new energy generation, taking into account environmental and community effects, technical feasibility and lifetime cost. It consists of three key packages of work:

• An additional overhead connection between Wylfa, Anglesey and Pentir, Gwynedd, to connect new low-carbon generation sources to the existing network
• A new substation in West Gwynedd to strengthen the network and ensure reliable supplies are maintained in the area, including to the Llŷn Peninsula
• An additional underground connection at the Glaslyn Estuary, which will replace an existing underground connection and strengthen the network to be able to handle the increased amount of energy in the system.

For its proposals between Wylfa and Pentir, National Grid has identified four broad route options within which an additional overhead connection could be built. For the proposals in West Gwynedd, three potential substation location options have been identified and for proposals at the Glaslyn Estuary, a potential path for an additional underground connection has been identified.

In this first stage of consultation, National Grid is welcoming people’s views on its initial proposal and each of the three key packages of work. Throughout the consultation process, National Grid will keep its proposals under review to ensure the most appropriate option is ultimately taken forward, and will not build anything unless absolutely sure it is needed.

If the preferred option for the connection is taken forward, careful consideration would be given to reducing any effects from the proposed works, with options including careful routeing and siting of equipment, planting and screening measures to reduce visual impact, creating habitats for wildlife, measures to reduce noise and traffic, and consideration of undergrounding in particularly sensitive areas.

Martin Kinsey, senior project manager at National Grid, said: “We all rely on energy to power our homes and businesses, and our role at National Grid is to connect major energy sources to the electricity network. The proposed new nuclear power station at Wylfa and offshore wind energy, and other projects like them all across the UK, are really important in replacing existing power stations which are nearing the end of their life.

“After extensive evaluation that took into account environmental and community effects, technical feasibility and lifetime costs, we now want to meet local people and listen to their views on our preferred option to connect this new energy generation. Their feedback is extremely important in informing the decisions we make.“ 

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Press release, October 4, 2012; Image: Centrica