High-voltage substations in the United Kingdom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The high-voltage (400 kV and 275 kV) electricity substations in the United Kingdom are listed in the following tables. The substations provide entry points to, and exit points from, the National Grid (GB) or Northern Ireland Electricity Network. Entry points include power stations, major wind farms and inter-connectors from other countries and regions. Exit points are to lower voltage (275 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV and 33 kV) transmission and distribution substations which are also shown in the tables.

History[edit]

The first high-voltage substations in Britain were built as part of the National Grid in 1927–33 by the Central Electricity Board under the provisions of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926. The substations and the grid operated at 132 kV and provided local and regional inter-connections.[1] Higher voltage substations were built as part of the super-grid designed for the bulk transfer of electricity which began to operate from 1953, firstly at 275 kV then from 1965 additionally at 400 kV.[2] The first 400 kV line was the 150 mile section between West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire and Sundon substation in Bedfordshire, the line had a capacity of 1,800 MVA per circuit.[3] The first 400 kV substations in Scotland were commissioned in 1972 associated with the line from Hunterston, Ayrshire to Neilston, Renfrewshire.[3]

From 1958 the super-grid and its substations were built by the Transmission Project Group within the Central Electricity Generating Board and included architects and landscape architects. The 400 kV super-grid reduced the number of lines and substations and therefore the number of amenity objections.[4] Some substations in urban areas were installed in enclosed structures but the majority were in the open.[2] The appearance of substations, and their visual impact, was improved using earth mounds and trees. Between 1968 and 1973, 725,000 tall trees, 915,400 smaller trees and 17,600 ground cover plants had been used to screen substations.[2] The substation at Sundon, Bedfordshire adjacent to the M1 motorway was screened with a beech hedge, and at Bishop’s Wood in Worcestershire the substation was built within an existing wood.[2] In 1972 a Mark II low profile 400 kV substation was commissioned, the first was at Wymondley, Hertfordshire. The substation used lighter support structures and the height was reduced from 72 ft to 53 ft (21.9 m to 16.1 m).[3]

The rapid development of the 400 kV system is demonstrated in the numbers of new substations that were being built: in 1971 ten 400 kV substations were commissioned by the CEGB, these were: Pheasant Farm, Abham, Didcot, Exeter, Hinkley Point, Indian Queens, Landulph, Melksham, Drax and Harker.[5] By 1973 there were sixty-one 400 kV substations.[2] In 1979 there were a total of 201 (275 kV and 400 kV) substations.[6] By the time of privatisation of the British electricity industry in 1990 there were 212 substations operating at 275 kV and 400 kV, and a total of 4,069 circuit km operating at 275 kV, and 9,822 circuit km at 400 kV.[2][7] In 2020 there were 179 400 kV substations and 137 275 kV substations.[8]

Centralised co-ordination of electricity supplies in Northern Ireland began with the establishment of the Electricity Board for Northern Ireland in 1931.[3] The Northern Ireland Electricity Service was established on 1 April 1973 by the Electricity Supply (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.[3] The integrated electricity network was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[9] In 1979 the system comprised 323 route km of 275 kV lines, 836 route km of 110 kV line, and 38,875 km of distribution mains.[6]

Owners and operators[edit]

The 275/400 kV grid and substations in England and Wales are owned and operated by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc. It also operates the grid and substations in Scotland although the systems are owned by Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Energy. In Northern Ireland grid and substations are owned and operated by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited (NIE Networks).

England and Wales[edit]

400 kV substations[edit]

The 400 kV substations in England and Wales and their interconnections are given in the following table. The identification codes (e.g. 4YF) for the interconnecting lines and the lower voltage transmission, if any, from the substation are also given.[8][10][11][12][13]

England and Wales 400 kV substations
Substation name Location county/unitary authority Connection to other 400 kV substations: Remarks Lower voltage transmission from substation
Abham Devon Exeter Code 4YF
Landulph
Alverdiscott Devon Taunton
Indian Queens
Amersham Main Buckinghamshire Iver 132 kV
East Claydon
Aust South Gloucestershire Melksham Cable sealing end compound for underground Severn-Wye cable tunnel
Newhouse
Axminster Devon Exeter Code 4YA
Chickerell
Barking Greater London West Ham 275 kV, 132 kV, 33 kV
West Thurrock
Tilbury Code YYJ
Beddington Greater London Rowdown Beddington Cable Tunnel Code ZZT 275 kV, 132 kV
Kingsnorth Former ±266 kV HVDC Kingsnorth circuit (operational 1974-86)
Willesden
Bicker Fen Lincolnshire On Walpole–West Burton circuits 132 kV
Blyth Northumberland Link to Stella West–Eccles circuits
North Sea Link HVDC convertor station HVDC link to Norway
Bodelwyddan Denbighshire Feed from Burbo Bank wind farm
Link to Connahs Quay–Pentir circuits
Bolney West Sussex Ninfield Code 4VM Also feed from Rampion wind farm 132 kV, 33 kV
Lovedean Code 4VF
Botley Wood Hampshire Lovedean Code 4YE
Chilling Code 4YE
Bradford West West Yorkshire Eggborough 275 kV, 132 kV
Elland
Lower Shelf
Braintree Essex Rayleigh Main 132 kV, 33 kV
Twinstead Tee
Bramford Suffolk Stocking Pelham 132 kV
Norwich Main Code 4YM
Sizewell 4 circuits
East Anglia ONE 220 kV feed from East Anglia ONE windfarm
Bramley Hampshire Fleet 132 kV
West Weybridge Code ZH
Melksham Code YYM
Didcot
Bredbury Greater Manchester Macclesfield
South Manchester
Bridgwater Somerset Under construction (2020)
Brinsworth South Yorkshire Thorpe Marsh 275 kV
Britned Kent Grain
Bull's Lodge Essex On Rayleigh Main–Braintree circuits
Burwell Main Cambridgeshire Pelham 132 kV
Walpole
Bustleholm West Midlands Substation
Link to Hams Hall–Draklow circuits
Canterbury North Kent Kemsley Code ZV
Richborough
Sellindge Code ZY
Capenhurst Cheshire West and Chester Connahs Quay
Carrington Greater Manchester Daines
South Manchester
Kearsley
Cellarhead Staffordshire Drakelow Code ZE
Macclesfield
Chafford Hundred Essex
Chickerell Dorset Mannington Code 4VN
Axminster
Chilling Hampshire Botley Wood Code 4YE
Fawley
Cilfynydd Rhondda Imperial Park 275 kV
Swansea North
Seabank
Rassau–Rhigos circuit
City Road Greater London St. John’s Wood Underground along Regent’s Canal 132 kV, 33 kV
West Ham Underground along Lea Navigation, Hertford Union and Regent’s Canals
Cleve Hill Kent On Kemsley– Canterbury North circuits Feed from London Array
Connahs Quay Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) Capenhurst
Daines
Flintshire Bridge Convertor Western HVDC Link
Treuddyn
Pentir
Coryton South Essex Spur on Tilbury –Rayleigh Main circuits
Cottham Nottinghamshire West Burton 400 kV link to Cottam Development Centre
Wymondley
High Marnham
Cowley Oxfordshire Didcot 132 kV, 33 kV
Seven Springs Code 4TE
East Claydon
Crayford Greater London Hurst Under construction
Creyke Beck East Yorkshire Thornton
Keadby
Culham JET Oxfordshire Spur on Didcot–Cowley circuits
Daines Greater Manchester Connahs Quay
Carrington
South Manchester
Macclesfield
Damhead Creek Kent Kingsnorth
Deeside power station Cheshire West Connahs Quay
Didcot Oxfordshire Bramley Code 4YG 132 kV, 33 kV
Cowley
Dinorwig Gwynedd Pentir Underground
Tee on Pentir-Trawsfynydd circuits Underground
Drakelow Derbyshire Cellarhead Code ZE
Penn Code ZN
Hams Hall
Ratcliffe
Drax North Yorkshire Thornton Code 4VC
Eggborough Code 4VJ
Fenwick Tee Code 4VH
Dungeness Kent Sellindge Code 4VO 275 kV
Ninfield Code 4ZJ
East Claydon Buckinghamshire Cowley 132 kV
Amersham
Sundon
Enderby
Eaton Socon Cambridgeshire On Wymondley–Cottam circuits 132 kV
Eccles (Scotland) Borders Stella West
Eccleshill West Yorkshire Padiham
Penwortham Code ZO
Kearsley
Eggborough North Yorkshire Drax Code 4VJ
To trans-Pennine (Woodhead) circuits
Monk Fryston
Elland West Yorkshire Bradford West
Link to Ferrybridge–Rochdale circuits
Elstree Hertfordshire St John’s Wood Elstree to St. John’s Wood Deep Cable Tunnel 275 kV, 132 kV
Sundon
Enderby Leicestershire East Claydon
Ratcliffe
Exeter Devon Taunton Code ZZ
Fawley Hampshire Nursling Code 4YD
Mannington
Feckenham Worcestershire Seven Springs 132 kV
Hams Hall
Penn
Fenwick Tee North Yorkshire Connection to Drax on the Thorpe Marsh to Keadby circuit
Ferrybridge North Yorkshire Drax
Rochdale
Fleet Hampshire Lovedean 132 kV, 33 kV
Bramley
Flintshire Bridge Convertor Flintshire Connahs Quay
Frodsham Halton Rocksavage power station
Capenhurst
Grain Kent Kingsnorth Code 4YN
Kemsley Code 4TL, includes River Medway Cable Tunnel
Grain CHP
Medway power station
Grain Static Inverter Plant BritNed 450 kV DC
Grain CHP Kent Grain
Grain Static Inverter Kent Grain
Grendon Northamptonshire Sundon 132 kV
Staythorpe
Grimsby West North East Lincolnshire Keadby Feed from South Humber Bank, Killingholme B and Immingham power stations to Keadby–Grimsby West circuits
Hackney Greater London Seven Sisters Road London Power Tunnels 275 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV
West Ham Lower Lea Valley Cable Tunnel
St. John’s Wood London Power Tunnel, single circuit
Hambleton Tee Lancashire Heysham
Penwortham
Stanah
Hams Hall Warwickshire Feckenham 275 kV, 132 kV
Ratcliffe
Drakelow
Harker Cumbria Hutton
Gretna (Scotland)
Hawthorn Pit Durham Norton Code 4TF
Heysham Lancashire Stanah (via Hambleton Tee)
Quernmore
Highbury Greater London Spur Seven Sisters Road–St. John’s Wood circuit Underground line 11 kV
High Marnham Nottinghamshire Cottam
Staythorpe
Hinckley Point Somerset Melksham
Humber Refinery North Lincolnshire Immingham power station
Hurst Greater London New Cross Under construction 275 kV, 132 kV
Crayford Under construction
Hutton Cumbria Harker
Quernmore
Imperial Park Newport Melksham
Cilfynydd
Indian Queens Cornwall Landulph
Alverdiscott
Ironbridge Telford and Wrekin Penn
Drakelow–Penn circuits
Shrewsbury
Iver Buckinghamshire Amersham 275 kV, 132 kV
Keadby North Lincolnshire West Burton 132 kV
Grimsby West
Thorpe Marsh
Kearsley Greater Manchester Carrington
Penwortham
Kemsley Kent Grain Code 4TL , includes River Medway Cable Tunnel 132 kV, 33 kV
Northfleet West Code TP
Canterbury North Code ZV
Kensal Green Greater London St. John’s Wood Underground, along Regent’s Canal and Grand Union Canal
Willesden Underground, along Grand Union Canal
Wimbledon London Power Tunnels, single circuit
Killingholme North Lincolnshire On Keadby–Grimsby circuits
Kingsnorth Kent Northfleet East Code 4YN
Tilbury Code 4VG
Grain Code 4TK
Feed from Damhead Creek
Beddington Former ±266 kV HVDC Kingsnorth circuit (operational 1974-86)
Lackenby Redcar and Cleveland Thornton 275 kV, 66 kV
Landulph Cornwall Indian Queens
Abham
Langage power station Devon Abham–Landulph circuit
Legacy Wrexham Shrewsbury 132 kV, 33 kV
Treuddyn
Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire On East Claydon–Sundon circuits
Little Barford Bedfordshire On Wymondley– Cottam circuits
Littlebrook Kent Northfleet West 275 kV, 132 kV
West Thurrock Dartford Cable Tunnel
Longfield Kent ?
Lovedean Hampshire Bolney Code 4VF 132 kV
Fleet Code VB
Nursling Code 4YC
Botley Wood Code 4YE
Lower Shelf Blackburn with Darwen Padiham
Bradford West
Monk Fryston
Macclesfield Cheshire Cellarhead Code YV?
Daines
Stalybridge
Mannington Dorset Chickerell Code 4VN
Nursling
Marchwood Hampshire On Fawley–Nursling circuits
Medway power station Kent Grain
Melksham Wiltshire Hinkley Point Code ZG
Bramley Code YYM
Minety
Imperial Park
Seabank
400 kV feed to Whitson
Middleton Lancashire Heysham
Link on Penwortham –Hutton circuit
Minety Wiltshire Seven Springs 132 kV
Melksham
Monk Fryston North Yorkshire Eggborough 275 kV
Lower Shelf
Necton Norfolk On Norwich Main–Walpole circuits 132 kV
Neepsend Sheffield Hunshelf
New Cross Greater London Wimbledon Under construction 275 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV
Hurst Under construction
Newhouse Monmouthshire Aust/Whitson Cable sealing end compound for underground Severn crossing
Ninfield East Sussex Dungeness Code 4ZJ 132 kV, 33 kV
Bolney Code 4VM
Northfleet East Kent Northfleet West 132 kV
West Thurrock Includes overhead Thames Crossing
Singlewell Code 4YN
Northfleet West Kent Rowdown 132 kV, 33 kV
Northfleet East
Littlebrook
Kemsley Code TP
North Sea Link HVDC convertor station Northumberland Blyth HVDC link to Norway
Norton Stockton on Tees Hawthorn Pit Code 4TF
Spennymoor
Teesside high voltage users
Osbaldwick
Norwich Main Norfolk Bramford Code 4YM 132 kV
Walpole Code 4VV
Nursling Hampshire Fawley
Lovedean Code 4YC
Mannington
Oldbury West Midlands Drakelow
275 kV substation
Osbaldwick York Norton 132 kV
Thornton
Padiham Lancashire Lower Shelf 132 kV
Eccleshill
Patford Bridge Northamptonshire On East Claydon– Enderby circuit
Pembroke Pembrokeshire Swansea North 132 kV
Penn West Midlands Feckenham 132 kV
Ironbridge
Drakelow Code ZN
Pentir Gwynedd Trawsfynydd Code 4ZC
Dinorwig
Connahs Quay
Wylfa
Penwortham Lancashire Kearsley
Stanah (via Hambleton Tee)
Quernmore
Eccleshill Code ZO
Pudding Mill Lane Greater London Spur from West Ham–City Road line Underground cable, main traction current supply to Elizabeth line, back up supply at Kensal Green/Westbourne Park[14] 25 kV
Quernmore Lancashire Hutton Code ZX
Heysham
Penwortham
Rassau Blaenau Gwent Rhigos 132 kV
Walham
Ratcliffe Leicestershire Staythorpe 132 kV
Enderby
Coventry
Drakelow
Willington
Rayleigh Main Essex Tilbury 132 kV
Braintree Code 4VB
Rhigos Rhondda Swansea North
Rassau
Richborough Kent Canterbury North Code ZID, feed to/from NEMO 132 kV, 33 kV
Rochdale Lancashire Ferrybridge 132 kV
Whitegate
Rocksavage Halton Frodsham
Rowdown Greater London Beddington Beddington Cable Tunnel Code ZZT
Northfleet West
Rugeley Staffordshire On Penn–Drakelow circuits
Rye House Hertfordshire Stocking Pelham 132 kV
Waltham Cross
St. John’s Wood Greater London Kensal Green Underground, along Regent’s Canal and Grand Union Canal 275 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV, 22 kV
City Road Underground along Regent’s Canal
Hackney London Power Tunnel, single circuit
Elstree Elstree to St. John’s Wood Deep Cable Tunnel
Sandford North Somerset Under construction (2020)
Seabank Bristol Cilfynydd
Melksham
Sellindge Kent Canterbury North 132 kV
Dungeness Code 4VO
Feed to/from France 270 kV DC
Seven Sisters Road Greater London On Hackney– St John’s Wood circuits
Seven Springs Gloucestershire Cowley
Minety
Walham
Feckenham Code ZF
Shotton Converter Station Flintshire Deeside power station
Woodland Conversion Station (Ireland) 400 kV DC East – West Interconnecter to Republic of Ireland, operated by EirGrid
Shrewsbury Shropshire Ironbridge 132 kV, 33 kV
Legacy
Singlewell feeder Kent Spur on Northfleet East– Kingsnorth circuits (Code 4YN) Traction current supply to High Speed 1 25 kV
Sizewell Suffolk Bramford 4 circuits
South Humber Bank power station North Lincolnshire On Keadby–Grimsby West circuits
South Manchester Greater Manchester Daines
Carrington
Bredbury
Spalding Lincolnshire On Walpole–West Burton circuits
Spennymoor Durham Stella West
To Norton–Hawthorn Pit circuits
Stanah Lancashire Penwortham (via Hambleton Tee)
Heysham
Stalybridge Greater Manchester Thorpe Marsh Code 4ZO Trans-Pennine via Woodhead tunnel 275 kV
Stocksbridge
Macclesfield
Staythorpe Nottinghamshire Grendon 132 kV
Ratcliffe
High Marnham 4 circuits
Stella West Tyne and Wear Eccles
Spennymoor Code 4TQ
Stocksbridge South Yorkshire Eggborough
Stalybridge Code 4ZO Trans-Pennine via Woodhead tunnel
Stoke Bardolph Nottinghamshire Ratcliffe
High Marnham
Stocking Pelham Essex Wymondley 132 kV
Rye House
Burwell Main
Bramford
Sundon Central Bedfordshire Elstree 132 kV
East Claydon
Grendon
Wymondley
Sutton Bridge power station Lincolnshire Walpole
Swansea North Swansea Cilfynydd
Rhigos
Pembroke
Taunton Somerset Alverdiscott Code 4VW
Exeter
Hinkley Point
Thornton City of York Drax Code 4VC
Lackenby
Osbaldwick
Thorpe Marsh South Yorkshire Keadby
Brinsworth
Stalybridge Code 4ZO Trans–Pennine via Woodhead tunnel
Tilbury Essex Kingsnorth Includes Thames Cable Tunnel 275 kV, 132 kV
Barking
Rayleigh Main
Tod Point Redcar and Cleveland Lackenby
Trawsfynydd Gwynedd Treuddyn
Pentir Code 4ZC
Treuddyn Flintshire Connahs Quay
Trawsfynydd
Legacy
Twinstead Tee Essex On Bramford–Stocking Pelham circuits
Walham Gloucestershire Rassau 132 kV
Seven Springs
Walpole Norfolk Burwell Main 220 kV, 132 kV
Norwich Main Code 4VV
West Burton
Feed from Sutton Bridge Power Station
Waltham Cross Hertfordshire Rye House 275 kV
West Burton Nottinghamshire Walpole 132 kV
Keadby
Cottam
West Ham Greater London Barking 132 kV, 66 kV
City Road Underground, along Lea Navigation, Hertford Union Canal and Regent’s Canal
Hackney Lower Lea Valley Cable Tunnel
West Thurrock Essex Barking 275 kV
Northfleet East Overhead Thames Crossing
Littlebrook Includes Dartford Cable Tunnel
West Weybridge Surrey Bramley Code ZH 275 kV, 132 kV
Whitegate Greater Manchester Rochdale 275 kV, 132 kV
Whitson Newport Melksham 275 kV, 132 kV
Imperial Park
Willesden Greater London Kensal Green Underground, along Grand Union Canal 275 kV, 132 kV, 66 kV, 22 kV
Beddington Former ±266 kV HVDC Kingsnorth circuit (operational 1974-86)
Willington Derbyshire Ratcliffe
Wimbledon Greater London Kensal Green London Power Tunnels, single circuit 275 kV, 132 kV
New Cross Under construction
Wylfa Anglesey (Sir Ynys Mon) Pentir 132 kV
Wymondley Hertfordshire Sundon 132 kV
Cottam Power Station
Stocking Pelham Code 4TB

275 kV substations[edit]

The 275 kV substations in England and Wales and their interconnections are given in the following table. The lower voltage transmission, if any, from the substation is also given.[8][10][11][12][13]

England and Wales 275 kV substations
Substation name Location county/unitary authority Connection to other substation(s) Remarks Lower voltage transmission from substation
Aberthaw Cardiff Pyle
Upper Boat
Tremorfa
Aldwarke South Yorkshire West Melton
Brinsworth
Alpha Steel Newport Uskmouth
Baglan Bay Neath Margam
Swansea North
Barking Greater London Redbridge 132 kV, 33 kV
Beddington Greater London Chessington Code ZZU 132 kV
Wimbledon
Berkswell West Midlands Coventry
Feckenham
Ocker Hill
Birkenhead Merseyside Capenhurst
Lister Drive
Bishops Wood Staffordshire 2 links to Penn–Feckenham circuit 132 kV, 66 kV
Blyth Northumberland Stella West Code XF 132 kV, 66 kV
Bradford West West Yorkshire Padiham
Elland
Kirkstall
Monk Fryston
Bredbury Greater Manchester Staylybridge
Macclesfield
South Manchester
Brimsdown Greater London Waltham Cross 132 kV
Tottenham
Brinsworth South Yorkshire Thurcroft
Templeborough
BOC operations centre Brinsworth
Chesterfield
Tinsley Park
Neeps End
Bridgwater Somerset Hinkley Point 132 kV, 33 kV
Bushbury West Midlands link to Drakelow–Penn circuit 132 kV
Bustleholme West Midlands Nechells 132 kV
Drakelow
Capenhurst Cheshire West and Chester Frodsham 132 kV
Birkenhead
Cardiff East Cardiff Pyle-Aberthaw circuit
Whitson
Chessington Surrey West Weybridge Code ZM 132 kV
Beddington Code ZZU
Chesterfield Derbyshire High Marnham 132 kV
Brinsworth
Cilfynnyd Rhondda Upper Boat 132 kV
Coventry West Midlands Ratcliffe 132 kV, 33 kV
Nechells
Berkswell
Cowbridge Tee Cardiff On Aberthaw, Cardiff East, Pyle circuits
Creyke Beck East Yorkshire Saltend North
Daines Greater Manchester South Manchester
400 kV substation
Drakelow Worcestershire Bustleholm 132 kV
Penn
Dungeness Kent Power station 275 kV to 400 kV step-up transformer
Ealing Greater London Laleham
Willesden
Elland West Yorkshire Ferrybridge
Stalybridge
Bradford West
Kirkstall
Elstree Hertfordshire Waltham Cross 132 kV
Watford
Mill Hill
Feckenham Worcestershire Bishops Wood
Berkswell
Ferrybridge North Yorkshire Monk Fryston
Skelton Grange
Elland
Ffestiniog Gwynedd Trawsfynydd
Fiddlers Ferry Warrington Rainhill 132 kV
Frodsham
Fourstones Northumberland Stella West
Harker Code XB
Frodsham Halton Fiddlers Ferry 132 kV
Capenhurst
Grangetown Redcar and Cleveland Feed from Lackenby Underground cable
Greystones Redcar and Cleveland Lackenby (400 kV)
Tod Point
Hackney Greater London Tottenham 132 kV, 66 kV
Hams Hall Warwickshire Coventry 132 kV
Bustleholm
Nechells
Harker Cumbria Fourstones Code XB 132 kV
Hartmoor Durham Hartlepool power station Code 4TH
Hawthorn Pit
Hartlepool power station Hartlepool Saltholme Code 4TG
Hartmoor Code 4TH
Hawthorne Pit Durham Hartmoor 66 kV
Norton Code 4TF
Offerton
Hedon East Yorkshire Creyke Beck
Saltend
High Marnham Nottinghamshire Chesterfield
Thurcroft-West Melton circuit
Hinkley Point Somerset Bridgwater
Hurst Greater London New Cross 132 kV
Littlebrook
Iron Acton South Gloucestershire Melksham 132 kV, 33 kV
Whitson
Iver Buckinghamshire Watford 132 kV
Laleham Code VW
North Hyde
Jordanthorpe South Yorkshire Brinsworth
Pitsmoor
Kearsley Greater Manchester Whitegate 132 kV
Kirkby Merseyside Washway Farm 132 kV
Rainhill
Kirkstall West Yorkshire Elland
Bradford West
Skelton Grange
Kitwell West Midlands Bishops Wood
Ocker Hill
Oldbury
Knaresborough North Yorkshire Monk Fryston
Poppleton
Lackenby Redcar and Cleveland Tod Point 66 kV
Laleham Surrey Iver Code VW 132 kV
Ealing
West Weybridge
Lister Drive Merseyside Kirkby
Birkenhead
Littlebrook Kent Hurst Code VN
Macclesfield Cheshire Bredbury
Margam Neath Pyle
Baglan Bay
Melksham Wiltshire Iron Acton 132 kV
Mill Hill Greater London Elstree 132 kV
Monk Fryston North Yorkshire Ferrybridge
Poppleton
Knaresborough
Bradford West
Nechells West Midlands Hams Hall
Bustleholm
Neepsend South Yorkshire Brinsworth
New Cross Greater London Wimbledon 132 kV, 66 kV
Hurst
North Hyde Greater London Iver 66 kV, 11 kV
Norton Lees South Yorkshire Pitsmoor
Sheffield City
Jordanthorpe
Brinsworth
Norton Stockton Hawthorn Pit
Saltholme
Ocker Hill West Midlands Willenhall
Berkswell
Kitwell
Offerton Tyne and Wear Hawthorn Pit
West Boldon
Oldbury West Midlands Kitwell
400 kV from Drakelow
Penn West Midlands Bustleholm 132 kV
Feckenham
Penwortham Lancashire Washway Farm 132 kV
Pitsmoor South Yorkshire Sheffield City
Wincobank
Neepsend
Jordanthorpe
Templeborough
Poppleton North Yorkshire Knaresborough
Monk Fryston
Pyle Swansea Aberthaw
Margam
Rainhill Merseyside Kirkby 132 kV
Fiddlers Ferry
Ratcliffe Leicestershire Coventry 132 kV
Redbridge Greater London Tottenham
Barking
Rochdale Lancashire 400 kV from Eggborough
Stalybridge
Whitegate
Saltend North East Yorkshire Saltend South 132 kV, 33 kV
Creyke Beck
Saltend South East Yorkshire Saltend North
Saltholme Redcar and Cleveland Sabic Chemicals
Hartlepool power station Code ZZA
Sellinge Kent Sellinge Converter 270 kV DC to/from France
Sheffield City Sheffield Brinsworth
Neepsend
St. John’s Wood Greater London Tottenham
Skelton Grange Leeds Ferrybridge
Kirkstall
South Manchester Greater Manchester Bredbury
Daines
South Shields Tyne and Wear Tynemouth
West Boldon
Spennymoor Durham 400 kV?
Stalybridge Greater Manchester 400 kV feed
Bredbury
Rochdale
Elland
Stella West Tyne and Wear Blyth Code XF
Fourstones
Swansea North Swansea 400 kV feed
Baglan Bay
Templeborough South Yorkshire Brinsworth
Pitsmoor
Thorpe Marsh South Yorkshire West Melton 66 kV
Thurcroft South Yorkshire Link from High Marnham–? circuit 66 kV, 11 kV
Brinsworth
Tilbury Essex Warley Code Z3B
Tinsley Park South Yorkshire Brinsworth
Tod Point Redcar and Cleveland Greystones
Hartlepool
Tottenham Greater London Brimsdown
St. John's Wood
Redbridge
Hackney
Trawsfynydd Gwynedd Ffestiniog
Tremorfa Cardiff Aberthaw
Whitson
Tynemouth Tyne and Wear West Boldon
Blyth
Upper Boat Rhondda Cilfynnyd 132 kV
Aberthaw
Uskmouth Newport Whitson
Alpha Steel
Waltham Cross Hertfordshire Warley
Brimsdown
Elstree
Warley Essex Tilbury Code Z3B 132 kV
Waltham Cross
Washway Farm Lancashire Penwortham 132 kV
Kirkby
Watford Hertfordshire Elstree 132 kV
Iver
West Boldon Tyne and Wear Offerton 66 kV
Tynemouth
West Melton South Yorkshire Thorpe Marsh
Thurcroft
West Weybridge Surrey Laleham 132 kV
Chessington Code ZM
Whitegate Greater Manchester Kearsley 132 kV
Rochdale
Whitson Newport Iron Acton
Uskmouth
Cardiff East
Tremorfa
Wincobank South Yorkshire Pitsmoor
Templeborough
Willenhall West Midlands Bushbury
Ocker Hill
Willesden Greater London Ealing 132 kV, 66 kV
Willington Derbyshire 400 kV feed
Wilton Redcar and Cleveland Feed from Wilton power stations
Wimbledon Greater London Beddington 132 kV
New Cross

Scotland[edit]

400 kV substations[edit]

The 400 kV substations in Scotland and their interconnections are given in the following table. The identification codes for the interconnecting lines and the lower voltage transmission, if any, from the substation are also given.[8][10][11][12][13]

There are two interconnections between England and Scotland. On the west coast the 400 kV overland line between Harker substation in Cumbria and Gretna substation, Dumfries and Galloway. On the east coast the 400 kV line between Stella West substation, Tyne and Wear and Eccles substation, Borders.

In addition the 600 kV DC Western HVDC underground and sub-marine link connects Flintshire Bridge Converter station, in Flintshire Wales, to the Western HVDC Converter station near Hunterston.[11]

Scotland 400 kV substations
Substation name Location Council/Unitary Authority Connection to other 400 kV substation(s): Remarks Lower voltage transmission from substation
Beauly Highland Fort Augustus 275 kV, 132 kV
Branxton East Lothian Torness
Coalburn South Lanarkshire Strathaven
Elvanfoot
Cockenzie East Lothian Eccles 275 kV
Crystal Rig wind farm East Lothian On Torness–Smeaton circuits
Denny North Falkirk Fort Augustus 275 kV, 132 kV
Devol Moor Inverclyde Inverkip 132 kV, 33 kV
Eccles Borders Stella West (England) 132 kV, 33 kV
Torness
Cockenzie
Elvanfoot South Lanarkshire Moffat 275 kV
Coalburn
Elvanfoot North South Lanarkshire
Fallago Rig wind farm East Lothian On Torness–Smeaton circuits
Fort Augustus Highland Beauly 275 kV, 132 kV
Denny
Gretna Dumfries and Galloway Harker (England) 132 kV
Moffat
Hunterston Power station North Ayrshire Hunterston North & East 400 kV
Hunterston Western HVDC Converter (600 kV DC) Flintshire Bridge Converter (Wales)
Hunterston North Neilston/Windyhill
Hunterston East Neilston
Inverkip Inverclyde Devol Moor
Link on Neilston–Windy Hill circuit
Neilston
Kilmarnock South East Ayrshire Neilston 275 kV
Strathven
Melgarve Highland Link on Fort Augustus–Denny circuit 275 kV
Moffat Dumfries Gretna
Elvanfoot
Neilston Renfrewshire Kilmarnock South 275 kV,132 kV
Hunterston
Inverkip
Windyhill
Smeaton East Lothian Torness 275 kV
Wishaw
Strathaven South Lanarkshire Kilmarnock South 275 kV
Wishaw
Coalburn
Torness East Lothian Smeaton
Eccles
Windyhill West Dunbarton Neilston 275 kV,132 kV
Wishaw North Lanarkshire Strathaven 275 kV
Smeaton

275 kV substations[edit]

The 275 kV substations in Scotland and their interconnections are given in the following table. The identification codes for the interconnecting lines and the lower voltage transmission, if any, from the substation are also given.[8][10][11][12][13]

The Moyle Interconnector provides a high-voltage link between the Scotland and Northern Ireland 275 kV systems.

Scotland 275 kV substations
Substation name Location council/unitary authority Connection to other 275 kV substation(s): Remarks Lower voltage transmission from substation
Auchencrosh Static Inverter Plant South Ayrshire Mark Hill
Moyle Interconnector North and South 250 kV DC to Northern Ireland
Ayr South Ayrshiire Link from Coylton-Kilmarnock Town circuits
Beauly Highland Feed from 400 kV 132 kV
Fasnakyle
Fyrish
Knocknagael
Blackhillock Moray Knocknagael
Keith
Kintore
400 kV feed from Spittal
Busby East Renfewshire Neilston
Giffnock
Strathaven
Clyde North South Lanarkshire Elvanfoot 400 kV
Clyde South South Lanarkshire Elvanfoot 400 kV
Clyde's Mill Glasgow 400 kV feed from Strathaven
Easterhouse
Longannet
Dalmaarnock/Charlotte Street
East Kilbride
Coatbridge North Lanarkshire Newarthill
Cockenzie East Lothian 400 kV feed from Eccles
Smeaton
Kaimes
Coylton South Ayrshire Kilmarnock Town 132 kV
New Cumnock
Cruachan Argyll and Bute Dalmally
Currie Edinburgh Grangemouth 132 kV (Sighthill)
Kincardine
Kaimes
Sighthill
Dalmally Argyll and Bute Windyhill
Inverarnan
Cruachan
Denny Falkirk 400 kV feed from Melgrave 132 kV
Longannet
Bonnybridge
Lambhill
Tummel
Dounreay Highland Thurso South 132 kV
Loch Buidhe
Easterhouse Glasgow Longannet
Clyde's Mill
Newarthill
East Kilbride South South Lanarkshire Strathaven
Neilston
Whitelee
Whitelee Extension
Fasnakyle Highland Beauly
Fork Augustus
Fetteresso Aberdeenshire Kintore 132 kV
Tealing
Kincardine
Fort Augustus Highland Fasnakyle 132 kV
Tummel
Foyers Highland Knocknagael
Fyrish Highland Loch Buidhe 132 kV
Beauly
Glenrothes Fife Tealing
Westfield
Grangemouth Falkirk Kincardine 132 kV
Currie
Inverarnan Stirling Windyhill 132 kV
Dalmally
Kaimes Edinburgh Currie
Dewar
Cockenzie
Smeaton
Kilmarnock Town East Ayrshire Colyton 132 kV
Feed from 400 kV Kilmarnock South
Kincardine Fife Fetteresso
Tealing
Grangemouth
Currie
Longannet
Kintore Aberdeenshire 400 kV feed from Blackhillock 132 kV
Blackhillock
Fetteresso
Tealing
Peterhead
Persley
Knocknagael Highland Beauly 132 kV
Foyers
Tomatin
Blackhillock
Lambhill Glasgow Denny
Windyhill
Port Dundas 132kV
West George Street
Loch Buidhe Highland Dounreay 132 kV
Fyrish
Longannet Fife Westfield
Mossmorran
Easterhouse
Kincardine
Bonnybridge
Denny
Clyde's Mill
Mark Hill South Ayrshire Auchencrosh 132 kV
Kilgallioch
Coylton
Neilston East Renfewshire 400 kV feed from Hunterston East 132 kV
East Kilbride South
Busby
Windyhill
Newarthill North Lanarkshire 400 kV feed from Wishaw
Easterhouse
Coatbridge
New Cumnock East Ayrshire Coylton 132 kV
Persley Aberdeen Peterhead 132 kV
Kintore
Peterhead Aberdeenshire Blackhillock 132 kV
Persley
Kintore
Smeaton Fife 400 kV feed from Fallago
Cockenzie
Kaimes
Portobello 132 kV
Shrubhill 132 kV
Spittal Highland Thurso South 132 kV
Tealing Angus Kintore 132 kV
Kincardine
Fetteresso
Glenrothes
Westfield
Thurso South Highland Dounreay 132 kV
Spittal
Tomatin Highland Knocknagael 132 kV
Tummel Perthshire Fort Augustus 132 kV
Denny
Westfield Fife Glenrothes 132 kV
Mossmorran
Tealing
Longannet
Whitelee Borders East Kilbride South
Whitelee Extension Borders East Kilbride South
Windyhill West Dunbartonshire Neilston 132 kV
Lambhill
Dalmally
Inverarnan
Drumchapel 132 kV

Northern Ireland[edit]

275 kV substations[edit]

There are no 400 kV systems in Northern Ireland; the highest transmission voltage is 275 kV. The substations and their interconnections are given in the table. The lower voltage (generally 110 kV) transmission from the substation is also given.[11][15]

Northern Ireland 275 kV substations
Substation name Location County/Borough Connection to other 275 kV substation(s): Remarks Lower voltage transmission from substation
Ballycronan More HVDC Inverter Antrim Moyle Interconnector North and South 250 kV DC from Scotland
Ballylumford
Hannahstown
Ballylumford power station Antrim Kells 110 kV
Ballycronan More
Castlereagh Lisburn and Castlereagh City Tandragee 110 kV
Ballycronan More
Hannahstown Antrim Castlereagh
Magherafelt
Kells Antrim Ballylumford 110 kV
Kilroot
Kells
Kilroot power station Antrim Tandragee – Castlereagh circuits 110 kV, 33 kV
Magherafelt
Lisahally power station Derry Tamnamore 110 kV
Magherafelt Londonderry Kells
Lisahally power station
Tandragee
Tamnamore Tyrone Magherafelt 110 kV
Castlereagh
Tandragee Armagh Louth (Republic of Ireland) Interconnector 110 kV
Tamnamore
Castlereagh

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. pp. 106–130. ISBN 0333220862.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sheail, John (1991). Power in Trust: The Environmental History of the Central Electricity Generating Board. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 104, 129–30. ISBN 0198546734.
  3. ^ a b c d e Electricity Supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. 1987. pp. 49, 89–90, 107, 108. ISBN 085188105X.
  4. ^ Hannah, Leslie (1982). Engineers, Managers and Politicians. London: Macmillan. p. 253. ISBN 0333220870.
  5. ^ CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1972. London: Central Electricity Generating Board. 1972. pp. 25–27.
  6. ^ a b Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1979. London: Electricity Council. 1980. pp. 14, 95. ISBN 0851880762.
  7. ^ Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics. London: Electricity Council. 1990. p. 11. ISBN 085188122X.
  8. ^ a b c d e "National Grid capacity map". National Grid. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Northern Ireland Electricity Networks". Northern Ireland Electricity Networks. 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d "National Grid - Route Maps". National Grid. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Open Infrastructure Map". Open Infrastructure Map. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d "Electricity Ten Year Statement Appendix A System Schematic". National Grid. 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d National Grid (2014). "GB Power Flow Diagram". National Grid. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  14. ^ Harvey, Dan (April 2020). "Class 345s to Heathrow". Modern Railways. 77 (859): 92.
  15. ^ "Northern Ireland capacity map". Northern Ireland Electricity. Retrieved 17 March 2020.