LONDON’S POWER GRID


New electricity ‘superhighway’ opens in London thanks to National Grid


In February 2018, The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall officially opened a new electricity superhighway in London, which supplies power from below the capital’s streets. This involved National Grid’s £1 billion London Power Tunnels project to rewire the capital thanks to 200km of high voltage power cables inside a network of 32km of tunnels, reports UKPN.


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f you’re fond of big numbers, National Grid has got some terrific ones for you. Around 200km of high voltage power cables run inside a network of 32km of


tunnels under London. Specifically, they run from Hackney in the


east to Willesden in the west and from Kensal Green to Wimbledon in the south. The seven-year project will supply around


20% of the capital's growing electricity needs. Prince Charles put on a hard hat for a tour of the tunnels, while the Duchess was shown an above-ground substation with a view into the tunnels. They also met school children, who visited


the grid operator’s education centre, set up to encourage young people to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark


said: “This important infrastructure will help increase productivity by cutting the number of


road works needed for maintenance, as well as powering London with the safe and reliable electricity supplies it needs for the future.” The London Power Tunnels is said to be


the most significant addition to London's electricity system since the 1960s, ensuring that the capital, and those living in it, have the electricity needed to rise to the challenges of the 21st Century. It was in February 2011 when National Grid


efirst mbarked upon its seven-year £1bn project to reinforce the high voltage network across London by installing new cables and wires via deep underground tunnels. The new 32km electricity superhighway


deep below the capital will help keep Londoners connected to safe and reliable electricity supplies. The project is due to be complete and fully operational in 2018. Murphy had previously been contracted to construct the 400kV GIS Sub Station at


“The works required


installation of the longest ever single­ length power cables in an underground util ity tunnel in the UK, at 2km long. The London Power Tunnels is


said to be the most


significant addition to London's electricity system since the 1960s.”


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Highbury as part of the EAN Framework and by UK Power Networks to construct a 132kV Primary Bulk Supply Point Sub Station at Islington. This substation would be powered from the NGET Highbury site utilising the newly-constructed LPT network. Murphy installed three 132kV cables and


related steelwork between Highbury and Islington, and then Islington and St. Pancras substations. These circuits will connect the two substations that Murphy initially constructed for UKPN as part of the EAN Framework. Completion of the 132kV cables works was


a critical key programme date for the LPT scheme and any delay would have had a significant effect on the overall National Grid programme. A seven day working week and well-presented programme enabled this challenge to be met. The works required installation of the


longest ever single-length power cables in an underground utility tunnel in the UK, at 2km long.


The teams’ aim was to reduce the amount


of joints in the cabling which would be pulled through a maze of culverts and shafts. The system and methodology used was designed and fabricated in house by the Murphy team allowing them to install the cable in the longest section lengths possible. The team installed the longest ever single-


length power cables in an underground utility tunnel in the UK, at 2,000 meters in one con- tinuous length. A proprietary system was designed and fabricated in house by experienced Murphy staff, effectively meaning the specialist cable team were able to carry out the projec efficiently, on time and at a competitive price. www.murphygroup.co.uk


MARCH ‐ APRIL 2018 UK POWER NEWS


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