Hinkley Connection Project
Bridgwater to Seabank (near Avonmouth), Somerset, UK · 2016-2025 (Planning consent granted 2016, construction started 2019/2020, expected completion 2025) · £656m (2020 prices, Ofgem approved efficient cost) [3]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchAdoption of T-pylons for reduced visual impact and innovative construction methods. Significant community engagement and environmental mitigation efforts, including removal of existing overhead lines. [1]
Key engineering challenges
Integration of new T-pylon technology for visual impact reduction and efficiency [1] - Underground cabling through environmentally sensitive areas like the Mendip Hills National Landscape [1] - Managing complex logistics across a 57km route with multiple stakeholders and diverse terrain [2] - Ensuring grid stability and capacity for a 3.2 GW nuclear power station [6]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET)
- Lead contractor
- Balfour Beatty plc (for overhead lines) [10]
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- 57 km high-voltage electricity connection (48.5 km overhead line, 8.5 km underground cable); 400 kV; 116 T-pylons [1] [2]
- Disciplines
- electrical; civil; structural; environmental; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- Development Consent Order (DCO) 2016 [4], NEC4 (likely for various contracts within the project) [9]
Sources: National Grid: Hinkley Connection Project Overview (https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/hinkley-connection/project-overview) - Somerset Council: National Grid's Hinkley Point C Connection Project (https://www.somerset.gov.uk/business-economy-and-licences/major-developments/national-grids-hinkley-point-c-connection-project/) - Ofgem: £60 million savings on new Hinkley Point C grid link (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-release/ps60-million-savings-new-hinkley-point-c-grid-link) - The National Grid (Hinkley Point C Connection Project) Order 2016 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/49) - National Grid: Hinkley Connection Project News (https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/hinkley-connection/news) - Wikipedia: Hinkley Point C nuclear power station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinkley_Point_C_nuclear_power_station) - National Grid: All T-pylons fully wired up in major milestone for Hinkley Connection Project (https://www.nationalgrid.com/media-centre/press-releases/all-t-pylons-fully-wired-major-milestone-hinkley-connection-project) - Trimble: How Hinkley Point C got a power-up with BIM (https://www.trimble.com/blog/construction/en-US/article/uk-how-hinkley-point-c-got-a-powerup-with-bim) - NEC Contract: Preparing NEC4 ALC for Hinkley Point C (https://www.neccontract.com/news/preparing-nec4-alc-for-hinkley-point-c) - Balfour Beatty: Balfour Beatty awarded £214 million Hinkley Point C overhead line contract for National Grid (https://www.balfourbeatty.com/media-centre/latest/balfour-beatty-awarded-214-million-hinkley-point-c-overhead-line-contract-for-national-grid/)