The Hinkley Connection team on Horsey Levels north of Bridgwater is working on complex engineering works to modify the electricity network and connect in the southern-most T-pylons on the route.
Construction activity, which began in 2019 has included:
- The removal of two existing pylons.
- The construction of two cable sealing end compounds, where overhead electricity lines connect with underground electricity cables through rectangular gantry structures.
- The undergrounding and energization of a 400 m section of the electricity transmission line running from Shurton substation to Bridgwater substation between those two cable sealing end compounds.
- Construction of two new transmission pylons to connect into the new line of 400 kV T-pylons between Horsey and the Huntspill River one of which is a rare, nine-armed pylon.
- Construction of two temporary pylons to divert the electrical conductors (or wires) whilst the works were taking place.
- Moving the temporarily diverted conductors into their permanent locations on the new pylons.
- Removal of the temporary pylons.
The work was required to connect the southernmost T-pylons on the Hinkley Connection, which run from Horsey to the Huntspill River, onto the electricity network.
To achieve the connection, the two circuits on the T-pylons were required to turn in and one had to cross over the existing Shurton to Bridgwater electricity line. A section of the route was undergrounded for safety reasons.
Once energized, the section of T-pylons will complete a new circuit running between Hinkley and Melksham and provide greater resilience across the network.
The temporary pylons were removed on 29 November and 1 December, construction works are almost complete, with the final stages expected to be achieved by spring 2025 and the T-pylons will be energized in the summer 2025.
