* £90 million upgrade of 82km of overhead power line between Bramley in
* Replacing the conductors (wires) between transmission towers (pylons) will allow them to operate at a higher temperature and therefore carry more electricity
* Increased capacity could help to accelerate the grid connection of 175 clean energy projects in
* Project forms part of a series of
The 82km upgrade of one its high voltage overhead electricity lines, between Bramley in
The £90 million investment includes replacing conductors - the wires strung between the 229 transmission towers (known as pylons) on the route - with new cables which can operate at a higher temperature and therefore allow more power to pass through the transmission circuit.
The upgrade of approximately 3000MVA (Megavolt-Amperes) will allow increased flow of electricity out of
The project has been brought forward a year and will now begin in
This upgrade follows
"Accelerating grid connections for clean energy projects is a massive priority for us. We recognise the urgency which is why we have brought this project forward to make a real difference for our customers.
"The need to build new network infrastructure is widely acknowledged, but upgrade projects to existing power lines such as this are an equally important part of how we are making sure the grid is fit for the future. We look forward to completing the work and working with customers to accelerate clean energy connections to the grid."
"We recently announced the most radical grid upgrade since the 1950s. The plans will halve the time it takes to build power lines from 14 years to seven, and cut the average delay to connect projects to the grid from five years to just six months.
"This £90 million upgrade to the power network means clean energy projects will be hooked up earlier, boosting our capacity and accelerating our path to net zero and greater energy security."
RenewableUK's Director of Future Electricity Systems,
"This is a great example of the way the grid is being upgraded to enable everyone to benefit from the vast quantities of electricity we're now generating from renewables.
"By addressing grid bottlenecks effectively and swiftly, projects like this strengthen our energy security and maximise savings for consumers, as we build up our twenty-first century energy system based on clean home-grown power sources."
The Bramley to Melksham upgrade also illustrates how before developing any proposals for new infrastructure,
By connecting more clean, renewable energy from where it's generated out at sea to where it's needed by communities across the
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