If you Google “national grid infrastructure” you will find a map showing that the 400kv lines, required for grid connection, run close to the coast around much of the UK and criss-cross most of England, North Wales and South Wales – with a big hole in Mid Wales!

When these sites were recommended for wind power there was a note mentioning that there was no way to get the power out – almost as a “PS”. Great planning!

The question as I see it (with this project), is whether the energy generated justifies the building of the extra infrastructure. Many on-shore wind farms can feed in to the local grid using smaller 132kv lines, but to build a 19 acre substation and 50 kilometres of 150ft 400kv pylons does make me wonder if the whole thing is environmentally viable. Both the substation and the pylons will require thousands of tons of concrete, steel and aluminium (all have high energy requirements), plus huge amounts of fossil fuels for transport and construction.

It will be very financially rewarding for the people building the wind farm, as they will get a huge grant for construction (paid by our taxes), but then the National Grid will be legally required to provide a route for the energy generated (with the cost added to our energy bills). Whether the whole project stacks up for the environment, people’s taxes and electricity costs seems highly questionable.

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If you Google “national grid infrastructure” you will find a map showing that the 400kv lines (required for grid connection) run close to the coast around much of the UK and criss-cross most of England, North Wales and South Wales – with a big hole in Mid Wales!

When these sites were recommended for wind power it was noted that there was no way to get the power out. Great planning!

The question with this project is whether the energy generated justifies the building of the extra infrastructure. Many on-shore wind farms can feed in to the local grid using smaller 132kv lines, but to build a 19 acre substation and 50 kilometres of 150ft 400kv pylons does make me wonder if the whole thing is environmentally viable. Both the substation and the pylons will require thousands of tons of concrete, steel and aluminium (all have high energy requirements), plus huge amounts of fossil fuels for transport and construction.

It will be very financially rewarding for the people building the wind farm, as they will get a huge grant for construction (paid by our taxes), but then the National Grid will be legally required to provide a route for the energy generated (with the cost added to our energy bills). Whether the whole project stacks up for the environment, people’s taxes and electricity costs seems very doubtful.

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