National Grid explain why Weston Marsh has been chosen for a substation

Officials have explained why countryside fields have been chosen for major infrastructure plans rather than land near an existing power station.

National Grid is looking to build up to two substations on land at Weston Marsh — in the sight of the existing Spalding Power Station — along with a swathe of pylons running along the coast and into the midlands.

A consultation is currently running on the Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire scheme along with the separate Grimsby to Walpole in Norfolk application - with an event due to be held at Weston Village Hall tomorrow (Thursday, July 10) from 1pm to 7pm.

Campaigners are fighting against the applications fearing the loss of high quality farmland along with the impact on wildlife and local communities.

We asked National Grid why land close to Spalding Power Station on West Marsh Road or the Wardentree Lane industrial estate in Pinchbeck, could not be used to house a substation.

A spokesman said: “Spalding North was considered and discounted for a number of reasons including already being highly constrained in terms of being able to get a new overhead line into and out of the site.

“In addition, the location of the waterways to the east and west of the site created additional issues. Furthermore, there is a constraint to the north due to the proximity of the existing power station, while land to the south cannot be used as it has been purchased, and planning permission has been obtained for a battery energy storage system plant installation.

“One key consideration is that the new substations need to be located where they can connect into the existing grid, at the right voltage level, and close to where new power lines will run in and out. Spalding Power Station does not meet that need.

“We are still at a consultation stage, and all feedback on site locations is being carefully considered before we make any final decisions. We are also continuing technical and environmental assessments as we develop our proposals.”

The firm says that most farming activities can continue below the pylons and the ‘overall impact on agricultural productivity is expected to be minimal’.

National Grid says that ‘biodiversity’ is built into projects and that if the presence of a protected species is confirmed, it will work with ecologists and relevant authorities to ensure the ‘appropriate protections are in place’.

A spokesman said: “Our goal is to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, by at least 10% and that includes leaving lasting benefits and strong protections for local wildlife and habitats. Additionally, we’ll work in partnership with organisations like the National Trust to enhance nature and wildlife in Lincolnshire.”

National Grid also stated that if a property is affected that needs to be compulsory purchased then a formal process with compensation is provided but added that it aims to avoid such impacts.

And it said that it takes environmental and ecological assessments seriously. It has also added that bat surveys are conducted at different times and that surveyors had been out looking for potential trees and buildings during the day.

It added: “All of our surveyors are trained specialists who will use the correct guidance in how to undertake surveys. We do not influence the outcome of surveys, and they play an important role in shaping decisions about routes, designs and mitigation.”

National Grid has also explained that capacity is the reason why cables are being used for the Eastern Green Link schemes, which will be transporting power from Scottish windfarms to Walpole in Norfolk.

It stated that the EGL cables can carry 2GW of power (enough to power two million homes) while the pylon proposals are capable of carrying 6MW. It stated that the cost of using cables for Grimsby to Walpole would be four times higher than overhead lines.

The spokesman said: “Grimsby to Walpole and Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire are being developed to provide additional capacity to the network, and to carry clean green energy to the East Midlands, to cope with the expected increased generation as the UK’s demand is forecasted to double by 2050, this includes Lincolnshire. National Grid has a duty under the Electricity Act 1989 to connect generation to the transmission grid - there are several customers who have requested connections to generation projects.

”Currently there aren’t enough cables between Scotland and England to carry the offshore energy being generated. Because of this, the National Energy System Operator, which balances supply and demand has no option but to pay wind generators to turn off their turbines because there is not enough infrastructure to transport the energy, and this cost goes on to all our bills.

“Onshore overhead lines and pylons have been considered for the EGL 3 and EGL 4 and 5 projects but given the physical distance/length to be considered (400 +miles each), the geography involved, the engineering and environmental constraints to be considered, as well as the need to meet our regulatory duty to be efficient coordinated and economical – the subsea and underground solution best meets these as well as being the best option for consumer.

“We require different technologies in different places so we can continue to deliver a reliable, affordable network into the future and meet the rising demand for electricity.”