VoltXpanse: Ultra high voltage onshore energy highway

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 October 2023

28 February 2026

ENA months

£1,450,000

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

The project aims to identify strategic UHV solutions (up to 765kV AC and 800kV DC) for future GB network reinforcement requirements; the project will investigate the feasibility of an innovative compact tower design (maximum 50-55m high and wide) to minimise environmental and community impacts, carbon footprint and consenting risks as well as the overall cost; the project will also investigate solutions for cable sections for the UHV circuits and the possible alternative routing solutions required to ensure the deliverability of these ultra high voltage solutions. Furthermore, the project will also develop a delivery strategy for these UHV solutions by assessing operability, carbon footprints, supply chains, resource requirement, whole life cycle cost, environmental impacts and planning challenges, among others. This strategy will provide recommendations with regard to the economic and efficient ways to deliver UHV transmission solutions. "The scope of this project will include 4 work packages (WPs)Work package 1: Identify strategic solutions for onshore UHV transmission network reinforcement (up to 800kV HVDC and 765kV AC) to achieve required transmission capacity for future energy network. Investigate the impacts of UHV solutions on system stability, protection and control, etc. ​Work Package 2: Feasibility study of innovative compact tower design (50m-55m high) for the required UHV transmission circuits (up to 800kV DC and 765kV AC). ​Work package 3: Investigation of technology solutions for cable sections and alternative routing solutions to ensure the deliverability for UHV transmission circuits. ​Work package 4: Develop an optimal strategy for delivery and recommend an economic and efficient way to deliver the solutions." "This project will address the challenge of required power flow transfer capability to facilitate net zero by developing ultra high voltage (UHV) AC or DC solutions applicable to the onshore GB transmission network. The objective of the project includes the following:Investigating the feasibility of an innovative compact tower design (maximum 50-55m high and wide) for UHV transmission solution (up to 800kV DC and 765kV AC ) to minimise environmental, community impacts, as well as carbon footprint and overall cost;Investigating alternative technologies for cable sections and routing solutions required to enable the deliverability of the UHV circuits;Investigating impacts of those UHV solutions on transmission network operations such as system stability, control and protection, etc.;Developing a delivery strategy for UHV solutions that considers operability, carbon footprint, supply chains, resource requirements, whole life cycle costs as well as environmental and consenting challenges, etc."

Electricity transmission networks are the backbone in meeting UK Governments energy transition targets. Ultra high voltage (UHV) transmission technologies such as 765kV AC and 800kV HVDC can play a critical role in increasing bulk power transfer capability in the GB transmission networks. This will also bring an added benefit owing to reduced transmission losses. However, due to the significant increased footprint of UHV technologies, there will be higher risks associated with consenting and increased impacts on local environment and communities. Furthermore, no technical solution is directly available for a section of a UHV circuit which needs to be undergrounded. This project aims to address the key challenges of deploying the UHV transmission technologies for the onshore GB transmission network by investigating economic, efficient, deliverable UHV transmission solutions for network reinforcement.

12/10/23