PINS Briefing 12 August 2015 Robert Powell, Judith Vokes, Richard - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

North West Coast Connections Project PINS Briefing

12 August 2015 Robert Powell, Judith Vokes, Richard Gwilliam

The North West Coast Connections Project

Moorside 2

What do we need to build?

An electrical connection for Moorside needs four transmission circuits – two double circuits Double circuit 1 Double circuit 2

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Technologies

How Do We Do It?

Technologies for Connection 400kV AC Overhead Line

132kV Conventional lattice 300-400 MW Height typically 27.5m 400kV Conventional lattice 6,900 MW Height typically 46-50m 400kV T Pylon 6,900 MW Height typically 35-38m 132kV Trident wood pole 120-150 MW Height typically 13m 400kV Low height lattice 6,900 MW Height typically 38- 41m

Technologies for Connection 400kV AC Overhead Line

400kV Conventional lattice

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400kV Low height lattice

Technologies for Connection 400kV AC Overhead Line

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400kV T Pylon

Technologies for Connection 400kV AC Overhead Line

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132kV Conventional lattice

Technologies for Connection 400kV AC Overhead Line

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Minimising the impact

Sensitive routeing of overhead lines Screening and landscaping Rationalisation of existing lines Alternative pylon designs Placing new line underground

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Technologies for Connection Underground 400kV AC Cable

This site width 40m 5000A circuit site width 70m

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Technologies for Connection Tunnelling

Head house diameter approx 16 metres & 7 metres high Tunnel is about 25- 30 metres below ground Longer tunnels require ventilation points and emergency access along route

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Technologies for Connection Tunnelling

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Technologies for Connection High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)

• An alternative solution to AC for bulk transmission of electricity
• NG would expect this to be undersea / underground
• Much narrower cable route than AC
• The type of HVDC needed does not exist today at required power levels
• Technology has not yet been used to connect a nuclear power station

Technology: the options

Overhead line Cable (direct burial XLPE) Cable (gas insulated (GIL)) Cable (tunnel) HVDC

typical

£

£2.5m to £3.0m per km £13m to £32m per km Similar to Cable Cost of tunnel + cable £2m per km plus up to £332m per pair of convertor stations

PROS

Limited disturbance; quick build; operational flexibility together with rapid repair and restoration times Improved visual amenity No reactors or above ground installations; narrower working width. Use in highly constrained areas Advantages over AC transmission over long distance (e.g. interconnectors)

CONS

Visual impact Lengthy construction and disturbance; fault detection and repair; above ground infrastructure; above ground reactive compensation New technology, use

• f SF6

Difficult to alter/expand Lack of flexibility – difficult to transform voltage; large converter stations required

Development Programme

Regional Stakeholder Engagement

 Started in 2005 with drive to see new nuclear development in Cumbria  National Grid involved since 2009  30 local planning authorities  Range of environmental, business and community organisations including; Natural England, English Heritage, the Marine Management Organisation, Morecambe Bay Partnership, CALC, LALC

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• Initial work and

studies looking at the ways to connect Moorside

2013 - 2014 2009 -2011 2012

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Project Timeline

• Technical consultation
• n six broad connection
• ptions
• 23 Oct 2012

announced decision to take two strategic

• ptions forward for

further study

• Identified route

corridors in which a new connection could be built.

• 12 week outline

routeing consultation.

• Landowners contacted.
• EIA wildlife studies

started.

2013 - 2014 2009 -2011

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Project Timeline

2015 2016

• Review 2014

consultation feedback

• Announce proposed

route corridor being progressed

• Ongoing studies to

determine detailed route of new connection and how it will be built

• Continue working

with stakeholders to shape proposals

• detailed route
• construction
• Mitigation
• further EIA surveys
• DCO submission to the

Planning Inspectorate

2017

• Formal public

consultation on route alignment and construction technologies

• Complete EIA

2013 - 2014 2009 -2011 2012

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Project Timeline

2015 2016 2017

• Decision on

application made by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

2018 2019 2024

• Subject to consent

being granted start construction new connection

• Complete connection

to meet Moorside first generation in 2024.

Strategic Options Consultation 11 May 2012 -19 July 2012

Strategic Options Consultation

Strategic Options Consultation

Outline Routeing Public Consultation 4 Sept – 28 Nov 2014

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Publicising the Consultation

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Publicising the Consultation

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Consultation Responses

What you told us – most common themes

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The Lake District National Park Rationalisation (removal of existing ENW 132kV towers) Designing a route to minimise landscape impacts Minimising disruption to and impacts on communities The possibility of an offshore

• ption

What you told us - Onshore North

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Preferences mostly for the green route Tends to be seen as sensible, as long as it results in an existing line coming down Some specific areas of concern

What you told us - Onshore South

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 Wide opposition to Onshore South  People said running a line through the South Lakes would be unacceptable  The main reason for supporting this route was cost

What you told us - Offshore South

 People generally supported this option on landscape grounds  But many noted that it was technically challenging  Greatest problem is connecting HVDC  NuGen said this would not work for the nuclear power station

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What you told us - Onshore South with Tunnel

 Qualified support from many members of the public  Broad support from stakeholders  People said that if an offshore connection wasn’t possible, then they liked the idea of a tunnel

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Consultation Feedback

 Rationalisation of existing

• verhead lines is important

both north and south of Moorside  Future development south of Whitehaven  Feedback reaffirmed visually sensitive areas, particularly:

• Lake District National Park
• Ravenglass
• Duddon estuary

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Consultation Feedback

 All feedback redacted and published on our website for 2012 and 2014 consultations  Propose to repeat this for formal consultation in 2016

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Next Steps We will work with: Local Authorities Landowners Parish Councils Community

Agricultural shows Information events Special interest groups

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Next Steps

 Which pylons we are going to use and where to put them?  132kV lines to take down?  New substations?  Temporary 132kV lines  415V, 11kV and 33kV crossings  Is there a need for more mitigation?  What landscaping should we do?  EIA Scoping  SOCC

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Development Programme

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2017 2019 2024 2016 Public Consultation on Detailed Proposal Submit DCO Application Start build? Ready for power station

 GIS  4Projects

Issues and Opportunities

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Any Questions?