New National Grid Substation Fully Operational, Transmitting Clean Power To 1.5 Million Homes
he title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
These three bullet points act as sub-headings.
- National Grid’s new Littlebrook 400kV substation in Dartford, Kent is now fully energised.
- The facility enables the transmission of 2GW of low carbon and renewable energy from interconnectors and offshore wind farms off the coast of Kent to power around 1.5 million homes.
- New technology deployed to reduce emissions at the site.
This is the first three paragraphs, which outline the project.
National Grid has successfully commissioned a new, state-of-the-art substation, in Dartford, Kent, enabling 2 gigawatts (GW) of low carbon and renewable energy to power around 1.5 million homes.
National Grid and its contractors Balfour Beatty and GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions have been working since June 2019 to build a replacement for Littlebrook 400kV substation.
The new facility will help to reduce the use of sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), a gas commonly used in the electrical industry to prevent short circuits and to keep the network safe and reliable.
These two paragraphs explain how the new substation fits in with National Grid’s SF₆ policy.
Engineers are using GE Vernova Grid Solutions’ innovative g3 gas-insulated busbar equipment which is SF6- free. A total of 5.6 tonnes of SF₆ gas has been saved, forming part of National Grid’s ambition to reduce its SF₆ emissions by 50% by 2030 and removing all SF₆ gas from electrical assets by 2050.
Teams have also deployed net zero construction methods throughout the project to reduce the environmental impact of the works, including steel manufactured in Britain, solar powered electrics, electric vehicle charging points, biodiversity net gain plan for the local area and an onsite biodigester to manage wastewater, all saving 5229 tonnes of CO₂ emissions during construction.
National Grid have this page on their web site, which is entitled What Is SF6? Sulphur Hexafluoride Explained, where this is the first paragraph.
Sulphur hexafluoride – also known as SF6 – is a ‘greenhouse gas’ that has long played a part in global warming, similar to that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Hence the need for its removal.
Conclusion
Removal of sulphur hexafluoride from the world’s electricity substations and switchgear will be a very large task.
The Anonymous Widower 
Unless its leaking out its not an immediate issue and would suggest in the grander scheme of priorities for climate change dealing with enhancements to the transmission system so it can transfer more renewable power should take priority. This replacement has just replicated what was already so its also a bit disingenuous to say it allows the transfer or more power unless the existing equipment had been de-rated due to age (c45yrs) [my local 132kV substation has equipment over 60years old as a comparator]
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | April 22, 2024 |