Category Archives: Energy

Energy, Uncategorised

Bramford to Twinstead network reinforcement

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National Grid are again proposing to reinforce the grid between Bramford and Twinstead in Essex.  They want to be able to export 15Gwatt from Suffolk up from 4.5Gwatt at the moment. The scheme appears much the same as it was in 2012 with an additional 400kvolt pylon line running beside the existing line after the  smaller 132 kvolt line is removed.

Clearly the power from North Sea wind farms must get to areas where demand is highest and that is London.  There will be a similar need if Sizewell C gets approved.  We need low carbon energy if the world is to avoid catastrophic rise in sea level, but it cant be at any cost. We also need food.

It is possible to build a power distribution under the North Sea going down the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coast then up the Themes.  The main problem I believe is the legislation that controls who would have to build such a grid.

We are in for another round of consultations at the end of March and another fight!

County, Energy

Bramford to Twinsted 400 kV line

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National Grid has today announced that the proposed upgrade to the network between Bramford and Twinstead is now needed much later than originally planned following updated information from the electricity generating companies who are planning to build new power stations and off-shore wind turbines in the eastern region.

It is now envisaged that a connection will not be required until the early 2020s rather than 2017 as originally planned.  National Grid’s assessment confirms however that an upgrade will still be needed to connect new the sources of power but not at this time.  The project has therefore been placed on hold for the time being.

The company had been planning to undertaken further consultation on the project early next year before making an application to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.  This will now take place at a much later date.

National Grid has produced a report – the Bramford-Twinstead Need case 2013 – which explains the changes to the proposed power generation projects.  This will shortly be available at:  www.nationalgrid.com/bramford-twinstead

National Grid is proposing to hold a briefing session with County and District Councillors on 28 November and will be explaining the implications at the forthcoming Community Forums which are detailed below and at which you are welcome to attend.  Further information about the briefing will be circulated when the time and venue is confirmed.

 

Forum Venue Date Time
Hintlesham and Bramford Burstall village hall 28 November 2013 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Polstead Stoke by Nayland village hall 2 December 2013 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Hadleigh HadleighTown Hall 3 December 2013 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Twinstead and StourValley Wickham St Paul village hall 4 December 2013 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Barmford, Energy, Flowton

National Grid latest route proposals for Bramford to Twinsted

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Today Natrional Grid announced their latest position on the Bramford to Twinsted Tee connection that will be needed to take power from the North Sea windfarm East Anglia One and Sizewell C (if it is ever built) to London.

Local groups, the Libdems, the MP, County Council and District Councils have all  been fighting to get National Grid to use modern technology to underground this connection that will otherwise blight our lives, damage our tourist industry and be out of date before it comes into use.

Have they adapted their plans?  Well, two short sections through the Dedham Vale AONB and the Stour Valley will be underground but the residents closer to Bramford, particularly in Hintlesham, are still cursed with a double 400kv pylon line.

National Grid, this is just not good enough.  Minimising cost at the expense of so many is not acceptable.  Why not go for undergroiund DC connections like the windfarm companies are proposing?  There is time to re-think,  Sizewell  C will only be constructed if the French Government decide it is good business and the final three parts of East Anglia One are some time away.  The re-vamped existing line which will carry some 6,200 Mega watts will do till then.

Latest National Grid Data is at http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/MajorProjects/BramfordTwinstead/Documents/index.htm

Energy

Flowton-Power from East Anglia One

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Last night at the Flowton Parish Meeting the developers of the major wind farm East Anglia One off the Suffolk and Norfolk coast, Scottish Power Renewables and Vattenfall Wind Power gave a detailed presentation.  They are seeking a route to connect the power from the 7.2Gwatt windfarm to the national grid at Bramford. The farm will be built in six phases of 1.2 GWatt each, about the power of Sizewell B.  Their intention they said was to bring the power ashore somewhere between the Deben and Orwell and route underground cables either north east or south west of Ipswich. Continue reading Flowton-Power from East Anglia One →

Energy, Waste

Incinerator or “Energy from Waste” in Gt Blakenham

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Sita, the preferred bidder, are moving ahead with public exhibitions and consultation at their own risk in advance of contract placement.  Unfortunately the first meetings will be complete by the time you read this.   I have emphasised to them the local concerns about traffic, health and the size of the incinerator building.  It is about 40 metres high.  They aim to make a planning application by December.

Energy, Gt_Blakenham

Pylon Lines

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National Grid have been under pressure in Somerset as well as Suffolk to consider seriously a wider range range of options for reinforcing the grid.  They have just released the following news release that shows some movement.  Keep your fingures crossed.

NATIONAL GRID TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON HINKLEY POINT CONNECTION PROJECT

National Grid has announced plans to hold a series of events to further explain the background to its proposals for a new overhead electricity line between Bridgwater and Avonmouth.  

The first phase of consultation on two potential route corridors for a new overhead line to connect the proposed new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ended on 22 January.

Since then the company has been analysing the extensive feedback received from local residents.  The 14-week consultation period prompted more than 2000 feedback forms, 1100 emails and letters and 100 telephone calls to the project helpline.  Around 4500 people attended the 17 public exhibitions held along the potential routes. 

From the feedback received, it has become clear that many people would like more information on the background to the project and the other connection options which National Grid considered before publishing its proposals.

In particular it is apparent that people want more information about alternatives to overhead power lines, such as underground or subsea cables.

National Grid is now planning to publish more information to explain how it arrived at its proposals, and will also provide new opportunities for local people to discuss them with the project team.

We will send information to all 37,000 homes within the original consultation area, and hold further briefings to local councils and public information events.   Full details of when these events will take place will be announced shortly. 

National Grid’s major project manager David Mercer said:  “We are grateful to everyone who responded to our consultation. The opinions of residents are very important to us and will play a vital role in any decisions we make.

“Since the initial consultation period ended we have been looking at all the feedback and reflecting on the issues it has raised, and it is very clear that people need more information about alternatives to overhead power lines and pylons. 

“In response to these concerns, we have decided to provide both written information and further opportunities for local people to meet the project team, and would welcome further public comments.”

A new power line is needed to connect the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C.  Depending upon the final route, the new line would be approximately 37 miles long and is planned to be constructed in 2016. 

Barmford, Energy

Giant 400kV Pylon Line

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The National Grid wants to build a new 400kV line of pylons from Bramford to Essex to carry the power from Sizewell and massive North Sea wind farms to London. 

This link is essential in some form if we put windfarms in the North Sea  but, as an overhead line, is damaging to our countryside, our environment and tourist trade.  It is an eyesore least damaging alongside the present line.  However an overhead line is not the only option.  It is possible, at a cost, to put the cables underground.  We are told that will cost at least 17 times the cost of an overhead line.  Perhapse £26 million per kM instead of £1.5 million for 30 kM.  Countries in Europe claim the cost ratio can be as low as 7 times. 

A further possibility would be to run the cables under the sea but that again is expensive

We need to be sure the options have been analysed thouroughly and give full weight to the impact on our quality of life.

As councillors we are preparing our response.  You should make your views known through the consultation at the National Grid www site.

For those interested in the data looks like this:

The uk uses about 60 Giga Watts (GW) in the winter at peak

Sizewell B is 1.3 GW and Sizewell C will be 3.2 GW (if it happens)

Offshore Wind  0.5 GW under development  5.0 GW just agreed

Total 10 GW that needs to get to London and one 400kv line caries about 6.4 GW

This would power several million homes