New National Grid substation operational
The facility will help to reduce the use of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and to keep the network safe and reliable.
Image source: National Grid
UK, London: National Grid has commissioned a new substation in Dartford, Kent, enabling 2 GW of low carbon and renewable energy to power around 1.5 million homes. National Grid, together with Balfour Beatty and GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions has been working since June 2019 to build a replacement for Littlebrook 400 kV substation. The facility will help to reduce the use of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which is used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and to keep the network safe and reliable.
Construction of the substation is now complete, with all circuits being successfully commissioned. The works included the installation of underground cabling, overhead line connections and GE switchgear. Four super grid transformers have been moved from the old substation to the new one, and a brand-new transformer was delivered in July 2022.
Engineers are using GE Vernova Grid Solutions’ SF6-free g3 gas-insulated busbar equipment. 5.6 tonnes of SF6 gas have been saved as part of National Grid’s ambition to reduce its SF₆ emissions by 50% by 2030 and remove all SF₆ gas from electrical assets by 2050. Net zero construction methods have been deployed to reduce the environmental impact of the works.
Laura Mulcahy, Senior Project Manager for National Grid Electricity Transmission, said: “We are delighted the new Littlebrook substation is now fully energised and connected to our network. Getting Littlebrook completed is a huge achievement for the team.”
Mark Wilson, Head of Service, UK & Ireland at GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business commented: “We are very proud to continue contributing towards National Grid’s ambition to remove SF6 entirely by 2050 and to be part of the Littlebrook substation project, saving 5.6 tonnes of SF6 from the network.”
Source: National Grid
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