Representation by Together Against Sizewell C (Together Against Sizewell C)
- Date submitted
- 5 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
C/o [redacted] Xx July 2023 Electric Lines: Bramford to Twinstead by National Grid Electricity Transmission Relevant representation as part of the application to be registered as an Interested Party Together Against Sizewell C TASC) was set up to oppose construction of Sizewell C Nuclear Power station, a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), permitted by the Secretary of State (SoS) in 2022 and subject to a Judicial Review. A judicial review of Wind Farm decisions related to Scottish Power and an onshore substation and grid connection at Friston is also ongoing. There are initial plans for interconnectors locally, however it is understood that there are limited opportunities to bring cables onshore in this highly sensitive and increasingly erosion-prone area of coast which is also a designated AONB and Heritage Coast. TASC notes that the obsolete 2011 EN6 national policy statement (NPS) for Sizewell states at section C.8.5 that a National Grid agreement was in place for a 3,300MW connection to include Bramford to Twinstead, a consultation on which began in 2009. In 2014, the then Department of energy and Climate Change(DECC), agreed a policy on ‘Smart Connection and Local Distribution’: see https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285417/Smart_Grid_Vision_and_RoutemapFINAL.pdf In 2015, National Grid CEO Steve Holliday declared that the principle of a need for baseload electricity supply such as that which is presumed to be provided by large scale nuclear was obsolete. See: Steve Holliday CEO National Grid: baseload is outdated (energypost.eu) Large scale nuclear power plants and their relative inflexibility of variable supply are not suited as back up to renewables and could lead to inefficiencies and additional emissions due to load-following difficulties. There are also other potential requirements for electricity, which could include but are not limited to, desalination, Direct Air Capture (DAC) and the demands of a hydrogen- based economy. Of particular note is that the ports of Felixstowe particularly and Lowestoft/Yarmouth are likely to require hydrogen. The above issues point to a lack of integrated electricity supply planning by government and a lack of understanding for the need to reduce demand and use new technologies for a low cost readily deployable, flexible and resilient energy system. The existing 400kv National Grid pylons at Sizewell, originally for Sizewell A, uprated for Sizewell B at 1200MW, now also carry an additional 850MW from two offshore windfarms - Greater Gabbard and Galloper - with further expansions planned for Greater Gabbard sited in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. This situation brings sharply into focus and questions the resilience and security of the grid to carry the existing electricity output, with the threat of a potential further 3000MW from Scottish power East Anglia projects plus Sizewell C. It should be noted that, during the pandemic, Sizewell B was required by BEIS to operate at half power due to grid stability issues. The undergrounding of cables may be a laudable aim to afford some protection to the Stour Valley AONB, but, we understand, this could present difficulties in respect of heat generation and keeping the cables at operational temperatures. The alternative of using under seabed cables may present further difficulties with shipping channels and ultimate onshore transmission to point of use. In terms of over-supply and grid instability issues which could follow, it is worth pointing out that there are 330,000 homes in Suffolk, yet Sizewell C alone would generate sufficient electricity to supply the equivalent of 6 million homes. Ultimately there appears little assessment of the actual demand for electricity in conjunction with the need to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping, industry and transport and to improve the energy conservation standard of buildings alongside an updated smart grid and more local distribution. Further EV technology changes and improved batteries may result in substantial reductions of energy use. M J Taylor, on behalf of TASC Bramford to Twinstead | National Infrastructure Planning (planninginspectorate.gov.uk) Click on above for the link.