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National Grid has energised the first of its new T-pylons as part of a £900 million project in South West England.
A total of 36 pylons located along a new 57km high-voltage electricity line are powering homes and businesses between Bridgwater and Loxton in Somerset.
Up to 400,000 volts is now passing through the pylons, as well as a newly constructed electricity substation at Sandford and 8.5km of underground cables through the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
National Grid said a further 80 T-pylons will be completed and energised by 2024, eventually connecting 6 million homes and businesses to Hinkley Point C when it begins generating.
The T-pylon design is the first major UK pylon redesign in almost a century and consists of a single pole and cross shaped arms. It is around a third shorter than the traditional high-voltage pylon design with a smaller ground footprint.
Construction of the first T-pylons began in September 2021, with the overhead wires being installed by March last year.
Steven Haskayne, project director for National Grid, said: “We’re extremely proud to have reached this significant milestone on the Hinkley Connection Project.
“The T-pylons are now reinforcing and strengthening the network in the South West and are ready for the connection of low carbon energy when Hinkley Point C starts generating.
“This new design forms part of our significant investment in the network in England and Wales, adding capacity onto the grid to deliver low carbon electricity to millions of people across the UK to use for years to come, and helping the UK’s journey towards net zero.”
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