In a world first, an initial tranche of thirty-six new T-pylons have gone live across Somerset. The pylons, which are located between Bridgwater and Loxton, will be included in the National Grid’s electricity transmission network delivering power to the county, as well as to England and Wales.
Somerset Live reported today (Thursday, March) that up to 400,000 volts was now passing through the pylons, a newly constructed electricity substation at Sandford and 8.5km of underground cables through the Mendip Hills. A further 80 T-pylons will be completed and energised by 2024.
Carrying high voltage electricity, the new shaped pylons are part of the £900 million Hinkley Connection Project. Running a length of 56km, the line will connect six million homes and businesses to new sources of low carbon electricity which aim is to help UK meet the net zero target by 2050.
National Grid project director, Steven Haskayne said: “We’re extremely proud to have reached this significant milestone on the Hinkley Connection Project. The T-pylons are now reinforcing and strengthening the network in the south west and are ready for the connection of low carbon energy when Hinkley Point C starts generating.
“This new design forms part of our significant investment in the network in England and Wales, adding capacity onto the grid to deliver low carbon electricity to millions of people across the UK to use for years to come and helping UK’s journey towards net zero,” he said.
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Construction of the first T-pylons began in September 2021 and by March 2022, all the conductors and wires that transmit energy between Bridgwater and Loxton were completed. The new T-pylon design, with a single pole and cross shaped arms, is the first new pylon design in the UK for 100 years.
The new design has a smaller ground footprint and is a third shorter than the traditional design. It is regarded as a potential technology choice for the future along with offshore routes, underground cabling and the traditional lattice pylons.
The new high voltage overhead line featuring the T-pylons is just one part of the Hinkley Connection. The full route is made up of 14 interconnected project stages which are set for completion by 2025.
This will include modifications to the existing local network by removing 67 km of overhead wires including 249 pylons and 8,5 km of underground cables through the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This will leave the area free of pylons for the first time since the 1960s.
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