Hinkley C’s 116 new T-pylons now fully connected

The Hinkley Connection Project spans 57km between National Grid’s new Shurton substation on the Hinkley C site and an existing Seabank substation in Avonmouth. An 8.5km stretch of underground cable runs through the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the remainder covered by overhead lines supported almost entirely by the new T-pylons.

T-pylons’ unique design sees six conductor spans attached to each diamond earring-shaped insulator on either side of the structure, with wires installed in sections of up to a dozen T-pylons at a time – a job that can take two weeks for each section, according to National Grid.

Stringing for the project was completed with the fixture of conductors to a T-pylon near the village of Yatton. With each T-pylon supporting 12 conductors, National Grid and contractor Balfour Beatty have installed a total of 460km of power line between the pylons, weighing around 1,288 tonnes.

“With the T-pylons fully strung, our Hinkley Connection Project is really starting to take shape,” said Steven Haskayne, project director for National Grid. “It’s a proud moment for all the teams involved, from our National Grid colleagues to our contractors, all of whom have helped us reach this milestone safely and on schedule.

“We’re grateful to all of the local communities we’ve been working alongside for their patience as our project team continues its work, which is moving us closer to a resilient and secure low carbon energy supply for millions in the region.”

The energisation last year of an initial section of the route means high voltage electricity is already flowing through 36 T-pylons, a new National Grid substation at Sandford, and the underground cables through the Mendip Hills. All the remaining T-pylons will be energised by the end of 2024.

“The efficient delivery of overhead power lines for the Hinkley Connect Project is a testament to our technical capabilities and reinforces our close partnership with National Grid to secure and deliver sustainable energy solutions,” said Tony Wilson, managing director of Balfour Beatty UK Power Transmission and Distribution.

“As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting National Grid projects, contributing to the creation of a resilient and secure low carbon energy supply for communities across the UK.”