Hitachi Energy and Linxon are collaborating to strengthen London Power Tunnel (LPT), a key power infrastructure project that will ensure reliable, clean electricity supply for England’s capital city.
To support National Grid in accelerating its net zero targets, Hitachi Energy will deliver EconiQ™ 420kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas-insulated lines (GIL) containing no sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
London Power Tunnel
As one of the world’s largest investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities, National Grid Plc has the ambition to remove all SF6 from its fleet by 2050. In 2020, it embarked on LPT project that will replace ageing high-voltage electricity cables and expand network capacity to meet the increasing electricity demand. Considered to be one of the city’s largest engineering projects since the 1960s, the LPT will span 32.5 km via underground tunnels in South London.
Bengeworth Road substation
Linxon is building Bengeworth Road substation for National Grid to develop the LPT infrastructure. To support National Grid in its transition to SF6-free solutions, Hitachi Energy will deliver 7 bays of its EconiQ 420kV GIS to enable the transmission of electricity over long distances while eliminating SF6, in addition to EconiQ 420kV GIL. The installation is expected to commence by 2023.
EconiQ
The EconiQ high-voltage portfolio is 100 per cent as reliable as the conventional solutions based on SF6. EconiQ is Hitachi Energy’s eco-efficient portfolio for sustainability, where products, services and solutions are proven to deliver exceptional environmental performance.
“Following the successful collaboration with National Grid on the world’s first replacement of SF6 in existing high-voltage equipment and award-winning project in Richborough, UK, we are proud to be supporting National Grid again in its transition to SF6-free solutions,” said Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of the High Voltage Products business at Hitachi Energy. “The EconiQ GIS is based on our breakthrough SF6-free 420kV circuit-breaker that demonstrates the reliability and scalability of the technology for the lowest carbon footprint.”
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Strong collaboration
“Linxon is building the infrastructure to power the world with carbon free energy. Thanks to strong collaboration with Hitachi Energy, Linxon is able to provide the pioneering EconiQ SF6-free solution from Hitachi Energy for the Bengeworth substation, supporting our client to meet their sustainability targets”, said Stefan Reisacher, CEO of Linxon.
Featured photograph (source: National Grid plc) shows a view of the London Power Tunnel.
