National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) has begun work ‘stringing’ the Hinkley Connection Project’s new T-pylons.
It is the first time the pylons have been used for overhead electricity lines, moving away from traditional lattice pylons.
The transmission operator has now constructed 48 of the T-pylons between Bridgwater and Loxton in Somerset, and is fitting conductors to them. This process is known as stringing, with 36 of the pylons between Woolavington and Loxton now completed and the final 12 set to begin in April.
NGET is planning for these T-pylons to be energised by October 2022.
In total, there will be 116 T-pylons along the route and work has already begun to construct those remaining in the northern section of the route between Sandford and Portbury. These are expected to be complete, and strung by 2023.
The T-pylons form part of a wider push to mitigate the visual impact of transmission infrastructure that also includes alternative lattice pylon designs and different types of underground and subsea cable systems.
“We’re immensely proud to have reached this significant milestone on the Hinkley Connection Project. National Grid is at the heart of the transition to net zero and the conductors we are installing today will carry low carbon electricity onto the network for millions of people across the UK to use for years to come,” James Goode, project director for NGET said.
The Hinkley Connection will be made up of a combination of T-pylons, traditional lattice pylons and underground cables, running 57km from Hinkley Point C to Seabank power station. The entire development is expected to be complete, including reinstatement of the land, by the end of 2025.
Hinkley Point C – the UK’s only new nuclear power plant – is expected to be operational in June 2026.
