National Grid completes first phase of $145 M project
UK: National Grid has completed the first stage of a $145 M (£130 M) project to refurbish the existing overhead line network between Lincoln and Stevenage.
Image source: National Grid
UK: National Grid has completed the first stage of a $145 M (£130 M) project to refurbish the existing overhead line network between Lincoln and Stevenage.
National Grid’s Operations teams and Morrison Energy Services have been working at heights of up to 50 m, installing around 1,440 km (895 mi) of new overhead line to replace the original, which was installed in the 1960s and is now approaching the end of its scheduled working lifespan. Engineers will have installed a further 1,670 km of new overhead line when the second phase of the work is completed in 2023.
The project forms part of National Grid’s management of the high-voltage network in England and Wales. 900 operational colleagues work 365 days a year to maintain the network, monitoring 22,000 pylons, 7,242 km (4,500 mi) of overhead line (the same distance as London to Miami) and 1448 km (900 mi) of underground cable.
More than $1.1 B (£1 B) a year is invested to adapt and upgrade the transmission network, ensuring it is robust against severe weather, including storms and heatwaves and also enabling the connection more renewable power than ever to help reduce emissions.
In addition to replacing the overhead lines, specialist teams climbed and surveyed 248 pylons along the 170-km route and fitted 52 T of steel to reinforce the pylons to support the new line system.
“This project is just one example of how our engineers work every day to maintain the electricity network in England and Wales. The excellent progress we are making on this refurbishment is testament to the skill and great teamwork of all involved. We look forward to completing the second half of the project and continuing our work ensuring our network can play its part in delivering safe and secure electricity,” said Martin Bage, Overhead Lines Engineer for National Grid said.
Source: National Grid