• North Carlisle area strategic reinforcement (£1.4m): delivery of 8km 11kV circuit with associated new switchgear to resolve network constraints to permit the connection of more low carbon technology (LCT) connections, including EV charging at Todhills Services MSA, and provide an interconnection between different parts of the local network to increase resilience for existing customers.
• Lancaster Forton area strategic reinforcement (£0.54m): delivery of 5km 11kV circuit to increase capacity for proposed developments of low carbon technology connections, including EV charging stations at the key M6 Lancaster MSA. Future proofing of investment to facilitate the future upgrade and provide a more enduring solution for accommodating future demand increases.
• Heywood Birch area strategic reinforcement (£0.7m): laying 2 x 4km cables to increase network capacity and help facilitate new connections, including EV charging at Birch MSA and future low carbon technologies around Birch Business Park.
• Durham junction (£3m): new substation to create additional capacity for demand and generation. The project specifically targets the future demand projections of Project Rapid for the local MSA.
• Washington junction (£1.3m): new substation to create additional capacity for demand and generation. The project specifically targets the future demand projections of Project Rapid for the local MSA
• Woodhall junction (£7.3m): investment to support new 66kV feeders energised at HV level to create additional capacity for demand and generation. Proposal considered to deliver a scalable connection for the MSA with the highest projected demand requirements from Project Rapid in the NPg region. Investment will enable the full future demand to be realised later. NPg expect additional asset utilisation to be achieved via large scale distributed generation operators.
• Wetherby junction (£27.0m): investment to support ~30MVA to the MSA and help to unlock a significant amount of renewable generation and development potential in Wetherby alongside providing a range of other system synergies.
• Phase 1 Tatton New MSA (£0.59m): installation of new substation to support EV charging requirements at a planned Motorway Service station at Tatton.
• Poplar MSA, M6 Junction 20 / M56 Junction 9 (£2.44m): installation and commission of a new 33/11kV double primary substation at the Poplar 2000 Lymm MSA initially supporting the demand for essential EV services.
• Knutsford MSA, M6 Junction 19 Northbound & Southbound (£2.58m): installation of new 33/11kV double primary substation site with ancillary equipment. This requires the installation of approximately 2.2km double circuit 33kV underground cable.
• Sandbach MSA, M6 Junction 17 Northbound & Southbound (£2.05m): installation of a new 33/11kV double primary substation site, comprising two 33/11kV 10MVA transformers, corresponding 33kV and 11kV switchgear and all ancillary equipment and two 33kV cable circuits.
• Hapsford MSA, M56 Junction 14 (£1.79m): installation of a new 33/11kV double primary substation site, comprising two 33/11kV 10MVA transformers, corresponding 33kV and 11kV switchgear and all ancillary equipment. This requires the installation of approximately 0.6km double circuit 33kV underground cable with association equipment.
• Burtonwood Services MSA, M62 Junction 8 Eastbound (£2.14m): installation and commission of a new double primary substation at Burtonwood MSA, supporting the demand for essential EV services.
• Wheatley (£3.9m): investment to enable the reinforcement of the Wheatley transformers and OHL between Wheatley, Headington and Cowley, providing 14MW of additional capacity. 8.58MW of this capacity will support general domestic LCT uptake in the area as well as the significant growth in EV charging requirements at the Oxford motorway service area.
• Rownhams - North Southampton (£9.6m): reinforcement of Rownhams substation and the installation of two 33kV new cables from Rownhams substation to a new substation at Rownhams MSA, creating 30MW of additional capacity. SSEN believe that scheme proposes a long-term, whole system optimised solution at both the north and south sides of Rownhams MSA.
• Category 1 (7 sites proposed for immediate delivery): investment of £20.9m to deliver 56MVA of capacity, equivalent to 750 ultra-rapid chargers, providing 100 miles of range within 10 mins of charge. All proposed circuits would be installed in 33kV construction and connected at 11kV in the short term to provide optionality for greater capacity in the future as required (post 2030). The sites covered include Baldock, Peterborough, London Gateway, Thurrock, Cobham, Pease Pottage and Cambridge.
• Category 2 (3 sites): investment of an additional £20.9m (at higher unit cost) to deliver 48MVA of capacity, equivalent to 640 ultra-rapid chargers within RIIO-ED1. Installation of all circuits in 33kV construction and to connect at 11kV in the short- term as per Category 1. The three sites covered Toddington, South Mimms and Medway.
• Category 3 (3 sites) – investment of £23m to deliver 24 MVA of capacity, equivalent to 320 ultra-rapid chargers at 3 additional sites – Birchanger, Clackett Lane and Maidstone. These additional sites were identified as options that UKPN could progress under Green Recovery dependent on an Ofgem review of whole system value, including transmission alternatives. Alternatively, UKPN identified that the proposals could be delivered under the RIIO-ED2 price control starting in 2023 and subject to the standard determination process for these controls.
• WPD’s submission includes 15 MSA or trunk road EV charging related proposals. These include:
• Tamworth MSA, East Midlands (£1.87m): new 33kV connection at a 33- metering substation and associated works, facilitating the release of 18MW of additional demand capacity. Supports MSA rapid charging and potential connection of further renewable generation and other LCT connections.
• Northampton MSA, East Midlands (£0.75m): upgrade to 11kV connection at 2 metered substations, each served by new RMUs, fed directly from Banbury Lane Primary. Installation of 1500m of 11kV cable across two circuits to connect to the nearby Primary and two new 11kV circuit breakers at the Primary with potential need to extend the building if other connections in area proceed.
• Cardiff Gate MSA, M4, South Wales (£1.4m): extension of the existing 11kV switchboard at St Mellons Primary Substation with two new feeder circuit breakers and installation of 2 x 2.5km 11kV underground, releasing 8MW of demand capacity. Supports MSA rapid charging and potential connection of further renewable generation and other LCT connections
• Magor, M4 MSA, South Wales (£1.3m): replacement of the 11kV switchboard at Magor BSP and associated works to accommodate two new 11kV circuit breakers, to provide supplies to Magor MSA. Expected to support 8MW of additional demand capacity for MSA rapid charging and the connection of further renewable generation.
• Pont Abraham MSA, South West (£1.8m): installation of 2 x 5000m 11kV cables to location within Pont Abraham MSA with associated infrastructure upgrades. Expected to release 8MW of additional demand capacity to serve the MSA with infrastructure able to connect potential further renewable generation within limits of existing 33kV network.
• Gordano, M5 MSA, South West (£1.7m): installation of new cables (~1.5km) in single cable sections and unbundle with new 33kV equipment to form a 33kV ring, new 33kV switch room and 33kV cable to connect to MSA through a new 33/11kV primary substation.
• Frankley North & South M5 MSA, West Midlands (£1.5m): installation of two new 11KV circuit breakers installed at Bartley Green BSP, with 2 x 3.6km HV cables installed from the BSP to the MSA site. A new 11KV metered substation is to be installed onsite to provide the connection.
• Gloucester Services MSA, West Midlands (£1.6m): installation of two new 11kV Cu cable circuits and associated network infrastructure, including installation of two 11kV circuit breakers at Gloucester Services in a building provided by the customer. Project expected to release 8MW of additional demand capacity, primarily for rapid EV charging at Gloucester Services with some scope for further renewable generation and LCT demand growth on south side of Gloucester.
• Hopwood Park, M42 MSA, West Midlands (£2.0m): installation two new 11KV circuit breakers at Longbridge 132/11 BSP with two new HV cables installed from the BSP to the MSA site. A new 11KV metered substation is to be installed onsite to provide the 8MW connection. Project expected to release 1-2MW of capacity initially with potential for further support to connections of additional renewable generation.
• Michaelwood, M5 MSA, West Midlands (£2.4m): extending the existing 11kV switch board to provide 2 x feeder breakers and lay 2 x 4.7 km cables to the north and south bound MSAs and install with associated infrastructure upgrades. This infrastructure releases 8MW of demand capacity to the site, which will also be available to support further renewable generation.
• Norton Cannes, M6 Toll MSA, West Midlands (£1.5m): installation of two new 11KV circuit breakers installed at Burntwood 132/11kV BSP and two 4km HV cables from the BSP to the MSA site. A new 11KV metered substation is to be installed onsite to provide the 8MW connection. The project is expected to provide 8MW of additional demand capacity for rapid EV charging at the MSA as well as capacity to connect further renewable generation and other LCT demand.
• Tibshelf Northbound, East Midlands (£5.6m): installation of two additional 33kV circuit breakers and two 33kV cable circuits from Alfreton BSP to Tibshelf Northbound Services Station. Supported by installation of 33kV equipment and transformation on site and replacement of both 132/33kV transformers with 90MVA units, including associated 33kV cables. Investment expected to release 27MW demand capacity.
• Watford Gap, East Midlands (£0.2m): Upgrade to an 11kV connection at 2 metered substations, each served by new RMUs. 200m of 11kV cable is required to make the connection. 8MW of demand released to support the MSA and potential renewable generation connections
• New BSP at Bridgwater, South West (£4.25m): scheme will establish a new 2 x transformer 132/33kV BSP near Bridgwater GSP with associated infrastructure works. The new grid transformers will feed a new 33kV switchboard from which the new Gravity Project connection and other customers (the Gravity Project is expected to fund the costs of the 33kV cable to their site and the required 33/11kV assets). The new BSP will provide up to 90MVA additional demand headroom (114MVA cyclic) of which 40MVA would be used by Gravity. The new BSP is also expected to create 60MVA of generation headroom.
• Hammerley Down 33kV Reinforcement, West Midlands (£3.9m): installation of a further 33kV circuit and create a two-switch mesh at Hammerley Down with an outgoing circuit to Alveston. Upgrades expected to release 15MW of additional capacity will be released, supporting rapid EV charging at local service station and potential connection of further renewable generation and LCT demand.
