Renewable Heritage Powerful Connections Burning Issue

THE POWER OF ACTION

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BRITISH PLUS: WELSH PROJECT, 7KH/LQFROQVKLUHJURZHUVÁ\LQJWKH NATIONAL GRID’S NEW ÁDJIRUKRPHJURZQDVSDUDJXV LOOK, WIN A DRIVER DAY National Grid’s Land and Development Group The Land and Development Group is responsible for acquiring all rights and permissions from statutory authorities and landowners needed to install, operate and maintain National Grid’s electricity and gas transmission networks. The Group acts as the main interface for landowners who have gas and electricity equipment installed on their land. Your local contacts are listed below. Electricity and gas 12 O5VY[O^LZ[HUK:JV[SHUK 0161 776 0706 O:V\[OLHZ[01268 642 091 O:V\[O^LZ[01452 316 059 O,HZ[0113 290 8235. Contents Wayleave payments O-VYPUMVYTH[PVUVU^H`SLH]LWH`TLU[Z [LSLWOVUL[OLWH`TLU[ZOLSWSPULVU News 0800 389 5113. 16 The changing face of National Grid Electricity emergency City Year makes a difference O,TLYNLUJ`JHSSZ[VYLWVY[W`SVUKHTHNL Welsh consultation takes to the road [V5H[PVUHS.YPKJHUILTHKLVU 0800 404 090.5V[L[OL[V^LY»ZU\TILY ¶MV\UKQ\Z[ILSV^[OLWYVWLY[`WSH[L¶[V Features OLSWJYL^ZSVJH[LP[ SPECIAL FOCUS Electric and How two National Grid projects magnetic ﬁelds are providing a major boost to the UK’s O-VYPUMVYTH[PVUVULSLJ[YPJHUKTHNUL[PJ energy security ÄLSKZJHSS[OL,4-PUMVYTH[PVUSPULVU CASE STUDY 14 08457 023 270SVJHSJHSSYH[L The National Trust has launched >LIZP[L!^^^LTMZPUMV a range of renewable energy initiatives Gas emergency at its historic properties O0800 111 999. SAFETY Dial before you dig Why stacking straw or hay bales too close to overhead lines can have O )LMVYLJHYY`PUNV\[HU`^VYRPU[OL disastrous consequences ]PJPUP[`VMNHZWPWLSPULZV]LYOLHKWV^LY SPULZVY\UKLYNYV\UKLSLJ[YPJJHISLZ`V\ PROFILE ZOV\SKJVU[HJ[7SHU[7YV[LJ[PVUVU Lincolnshire asparagus growers 0800 688 588ZV[OH[ZLHYJOLZJHUIL Nick and Ros Loweth supply some of 08 THKL[VKL[LYTPUL[OLL_HJ[WVZP[PVUVM the top restaurants in the country HU`5H[PVUHS.YPKHZZL[Z Customer comments Competition page O>YP[L[V3HUK +L]LSVWTLU[5H[PVUHS .YPK/V\ZL>HY^PJR;LJOUVSVN`7HYR Enter competitions to win a driver .HSSV^Z/PSS>HY^PJR>HY^PJRZOPYL *=+(6YLTHPS\ZH[! experience day and a £150 Marks & SKJ\Z[VTLYJVTTLU[Z'\RUNYPKJVT Spencer giftcard

04 Gridline Welcome to

;\YU[VWHNLMVY[OLYLZ\S[ZVMSHZ[ PZZ\L»ZWOV[VJVTWL[P[PVU *ULGOLQH Competition win nets It’s my pleasure as the new editor to welcome you to the Joan a new camera *VUNYH[\SH[PVUZ[VLSLJ[YPJP[`NYHU[VY latest issue of the magazine. I will be doing my best to ensure 1VHU(ZX\P[OVM.YV]L-HYTULHY Gridline remains an informative and interesting read. 7VU[LMYHJ[PU>LZ[@VYRZOPYLÔV PZ[OL^PUULYVM[OL1LZZVWZ NPM[JHYKJVTWL[P[PVUPU[OLSHZ[PZZ\L Two questions the nation’s future energy supply. ¸4`J\YYLU[KPNP[HSJHTLYHOHZQ\Z[ I sometimes get NP]LU\W[OLNOVZ[ZV^PUUPUN[OPZ On page 12 we look at how the asked are: ‘what NPM[JHYK^PSSLUHISLTL[VYLWSHJLP[¹ National Trust is introducing renewable ZHPK1VHUÔVZLMHTPS`Y\UH is a grantor?’ and energy initiatives at many historic HJYLHYHISLMHYTNYV^PUN]HYPV\Z ‘what’s the purpose properties – proving that heritage JYVWZPUJS\KPUNÔLH[YHWLZLLKVPS of Gridline?’. preservation and energy effi ciency can HUKIHYSL` Well, a grantor is happily coexist. ¸;OPZPZ[OLZLJVUK[PTL0»]LILLU anybody who owns S\JR`PUHJVTWL[P[PVU¹ZHPK1VHU As farmers and contractors or occupies land that hosts National ¸:VTL[PTLHNV0^VUHÅPNO[[V throughout the country prepare for +LUTHYRPU[OL@VYRZOPYL7VZ[0[Q\Z[ Grid transmission towers or pipelines. harvesting, on page 14 we take a timely ZOV^Z[OH[PM`V\LU[LYJVTWL[P[PVUZ The aim of Gridline is primarily look at the importance of locating `V\KVOH]LHJOHUJLVM^PUUPUN to bring together a community that hay or straw stacks well away from ZVTL[OPUN0M`V\KVU»[LU[LY`V\ National Grid recognises is playing a overhead power lines. JHU»[^PU¹ vital role in the effi cient functioning of Turn to page 16 for our profi le of the UK’s gas and electricity networks. Lincolnshire grantors Nick and Ros The magazine celebrates our Loweth, who argue that, when it comes *HWLQWRXFK grantors’ interesting and diverse use of to asparagus, British is defi nitely best. 3OHDVHFRQWDFW*ULGOLQHLI land, while also providing important And by eating fresh produce in O@V\OH]LHUÙL^Z[OH[`V\[OPUR safety information and advice. season, you will also be sourcing ^V\SKILVMPU[LYLZ[[VV[OLYNYHU[VYZ Turning to the current issue, our your food locally, cutting food miles O@V\[OPUR`V\YI\ZPULZZVYOVII` main feature on page 8 focuses on and supporting farmers in your ^V\SKTHRLHNVVKHY[PJSL two signifi cant energy infrastructure O@V\OH]LHU`Z\NNLZ[PVUZMVY neighbourhood in the process. projects involving National Grid. [VWPJZ`V\^V\SKSPRL[VZLLJV]LYLK Our competition this issue provides PU.YPKSPUL The UK faces considerable challenges you with an opportunity to win a driver in the years ahead as energy security experience day courtesy of Treatme, as .YPKSPULPZWYVK\JLKI`:\TTLYZH\S[ and climate change targets start to bite. well as a chance to be picked out of the *VTT\UPJH[PVUZ>H[LYSVV The 260km BritNed Interconnector, hat for an M&S giftcard worth £150. 7SHJL>HY^PJR:[YLL[3LHTPUN[VU an electricity subsea cable linking the :WH>HY^PJRZOPYL*=3( UK with the Netherlands, and capacity ;VJVU[HJ[.YPKSPULWOVUL LTHPSNYPKSPUL'\RUNYPK expansion at the Grain Liquefi ed JVTVY^YP[L[V[OLHKKYLZZHIV]L Natural Gas importation terminal Dawn McCarroll will both play their part in securing Editor, Gridline

Gridline [ 03 For more information Tel: 01926 656 325 email: [email protected] www.nationalgrid.com Newsline ;OLSH[LZ[UL^ZMYVTNational GridHUKP[ZUH[PVU^PKLNYHU[VYUL[^VYR

(66(17,$/52/(;OLUL^SVVR LTWOHZPZLZ5H[PVUHS.YPK»ZYVSLPU THPU[HPUPUNLULYN`UL[^VYRZ Meeting the UK’s energy needs National Grid’s new ‘public face’ reﬂects its key role in providing future energy solutions

OVER THE COMING WEEKS AND “The new look aims to raise our public work and who is accountable to the months a new consistent visual branding proﬁle in the United Kingdom. It’s about local communities living with National will be evident wherever National Grid reminding people that the work we do Grid’s works. or its alliance partners are operating. It is behind a way of life that every energy “Applying this look across all our will be visible, for example, on site consumer has become accustomed to, consumer-facing materials will help the hoardings, vehicle liveries, street works expects and relies upon.” public develop a strong sense of National signage, project pamphlets and community The thick and thin lines of the new Grid’s essential role in connecting them to consultation material. branding are derived from the cables and the energy that enables their way of life, “As a company, in the past we have pipes that deliver the transmission and now and into the future,” said Donald. not always maximised opportunities to distribution networks from source to end- communicate to the public at large the key user. While familiar items such as kettles and The work we do role we play at the heart of the UK’s energy light bulbs highlight the fact that their use is behind a way of infrastructure, delivering safe, reliable and would not be possible without the networks. convenient energy at the ﬂick of a switch,” The new branding will also be used by life that every energy said Donald Johnson, who is head of the external face of the alliance partnerships, corporate brand strategy and identity at which work alongside National Grid, consumer has become National Grid. making it clear who is responsible for the accustomed to

04 [ Gridline News in brief

SEE NATIONAL GRID AT THE COUNTY SHOWS 5H[PVUHS.YPK^PSSIL OVZ[PUNHTHYX\LLH[ ZL]LUTVYLJV\U[` ZOV^Z[OPZZ\TTLY VMMLYPUNOVZWP[HSP[`[V 6+,1,1* PU]P[LKNYHU[VYZHMMLJ[LK /,*+76*P[` I`THQVYWYVQLJ[Z @LHY»Z;LHT 5H[PVUHS.YPK O96@(3*695>(33 1\UL O*/,:/09, 1\UL O305*635:/09, Leading by example 1\UL O96@(3/0./3(5+ A GROUNDBREAKING to a three-year sponsorship with the London Tunnels project. 1\UL project in London to inspire of Team National Grid at “National Grid has a strong O96@(3569-632 primary schoolchildren to excel Whitmore Primary School in relationship with City Year in 1\UL in their studies and make the Hackney, where pupils are the US and we are delighted to O.9,(;@692:/09, right life choices is being backed in the 3-11 age range. be sponsoring our own City 1\S` by National Grid. City Year has a successful Year London team – a group O96@(3>,3:/ The project, led by the City track record in the United States, of youngsters devoting a year 1\S` Year London organisation, places where it can point to measurable of their life to inspire others, young people, aged between 18 gains in literacy, numeracy combining local community and 25, in schools for a year, and attendance from children impact and future leadership,” where they act as role models and involved in its programmes. said Gareth Burden, London mentors, supporting students, National Grid has been Tunnels project team manager. assisting teachers and managing working for a number of years Visit www.fullofpurpose.org. structured after-school activities. on energy security projects in uk/news/view/city_year_london National Grid has committed Hackney and this is continuing to see a video about the project.

One minute interview David Knowles, lands offi cer north-west and Scotland SEEING THE LIGHT :[\KLU[ZH[>PSSPHT Background: I joined world driving fast cars can’t be too bad! )YHKMVYK*VTT\UP[` National Grid in Family matters: I live in Mobberley, near *VSSLNLPU/PUJRSL` July 2010, after Knutsford, Cheshire, with my girlfriend Gemma. OH]LWS\NNLKPU[VZVSHY working as a trainee Leisure interests: I play football for Toft WV^LY^P[O[OLOLSW surveyor at a fi rm of Tornadoes in Knutsford and support Manchester VMHKVUH[PVU chartered surveyors, mostly working on behalf United and Doncaster Rovers. MYVT5H[PVUHS.YPKHUK of United Utilities. If you won the lottery what would you buy? JVU[YHJ[VY,U[LYWYPZL Current focus: Overhead line refurbishments A Ferrari. I’ve wanted one ever since I spent a ;OLPUZ[HSSH[PVUVM near Macclesfi eld substation, Cheshire, and in week at a Ferrari garage as work experience WOV[V]VS[HPJYVVMWHULSZ North Wales. at school. PZOLSWPUN[OLJVSSLNL What do you like about your job? The mix If you could be anywhere in the world: Skiing in [VJ\[P[ZLSLJ[YPJP[` between offi ce and fi eld-based work, meeting the Canadian Rocky Mountains. IPSSZYLK\JLP[ZJHYIVU different people and the day-to-day challenges. Pet hate: Bad drivers. MVV[WYPU[HUKHJOPL]L Dream job: F1 racing driver. Travelling the Last holiday: Cape Town, South Africa. .YLLU-SHNZ[H[\ZHZHU ,JV:JOVVS

Gridline [ 05 Newsline

)(('%$&.+H]PK=LYUVU YPNO[OHZILLUV\[HUKHIV\[PU 7V^`ZHUK:OYVWZOPYL^P[O[OL TVIPSLL_OPIP[PVU]LOPJSL Going the extra mile to consult

A NEW MOBILE EXHIBITION VEHICLE (1(5*<&+$//(1*( has been out and about in Powys and The UK faces a major energy challenge to Shropshire. National Grid hit the road meet emission reduction targets and install as part of its public consultation for the new lower carbon generation before ageing proposed connection for new wind farm power stations go out of commission. developments that are planned in mid-Wales. National Grid is proposing to construct Project newsletters were delivered to a new high-voltage substation to collect 85,000 local residents and over 45 drop-in the energy from the wind farms and a new exhibitions will have been held in church and 400kV transmission connection to take the village halls across the region by the time the power from the substation and feed it into first phase of consultation has concluded. the national transmission system at a point “The aim was to provide the public with between Shrewsbury and Wrexham. as many opportunities as possible to find $'9,&(3HUKZVMÄJLY1HTLZ+LHU^HZ Additionally, ScottishPower Energy out about the project and to give feedback,” WHY[VM[OL[LHTWYV]PKPUNPUMVYTH[PVU Networks and SSE Renewables are explained David Vernon, consents officer proposing new 132kV local connections to with the north-west and Scotland regional for renewable energy and a number of wind connect the power generated from the wind team.“By using a purpose-built vehicle, farms are being considered in the region. farms to National Grid’s new substation. we were able to hold a further eight events These new wind farms could deliver low- Public input will be taken into account in and ensure even more people could take part carbon energy to 450,000 homes in England the plans taken forward by National Grid. in the consultation.” and Wales. However, there is currently no existing :,1')$506 infrastructure in the area to transmit the For more information… The Welsh Assembly Government has potential 800-900MW of power to National go to www.nationalgrid.com/ identified mid-Wales as an important area Grid’s transmission network. midwalesconnection

06 [ Gridline 3URMHFWZDWFK A round-up of current and forthcoming projects around the country

NORTH LONDON NORTH-WEST COAST 1 REINFORCEMENT PROJECT 3 CONNECTIONS

WHEN: Consultation began April 2011 WHEN: Consultation begins late 2011 WHY: A series of upgrades are necessary to WHY: National Grid has been asked to connect the overhead line that runs from Waltham a number of low-carbon electricity generation Cross substation in Epping Forest to sources in Cumbria and Lancashire. These Hackney substation in London. The include offshore wind farms and a new nuclear work will enable new sources of power power station at Sellafi eld by NuGeneration Ltd generation to be connected to meet the (expected to start generation in 2023). growing demand for energy in London. WHAT: With no transmission network in west WHAT: Major investment is needed to Cumbria, a number of strategic options for the upgrade the overhead line and there will be connections are being considered, including works at Waltham Cross and Brimsdown overhead power lines, underground cables substations, as well as in the vicinity of and subsea high-voltage direct current cable Tottenham substation. There are also connections. National Grid is in discussions permitted works on the Tottenham to with local stakeholders, such as the Lake Hackney overhead line and at Hackney District National Park Authority, and a public substation. Public feedback in the fi rst consultation starts in late 2011. Potentially stage of consultation will infl uence affected landowners will be contacted about the National Grid’s planning application. selected preferred route corridor in 2012.

EAST THURROCK BRADFORD WEST 2 CONNECTION PROJECT 4 REFURBISHMENT 3 WHEN: Consultation began October 2010 WHEN: January to October 2011 WHY: National Grid plans to construct WHY: A refurbishment is under way a substation and related infrastructure in on all 57 towers of the 275kV Thurrock, Essex, in order to connect a overhead power line from Bradford proposed new 900MW gas-fi red power West substation to Elland substation 4 station – the Gateway Energy Centre – in West Yorkshire, as well as another on the north bank of the Thames, near section of 13 towers from Bradford Corringham, in Essex. The objective is to West to just west of Shipley. complete the work by 2014. WHAT: There are a total of 25 road WHAT: Stage one of the public consultation crossings on the route, as well as a in October 2010 focused on 13 potential span oversailing the River Calder. locations for the substation. National Grid One of the towers is situated within a has now identifi ed two options for the prehistoric enclosed settlement burial substation site and associated connections, ground and a method statement has and is asking for further public comment. been agreed with English Heritage 2 A third round of consultation is likely later to use trackway to protect the entire 1 this year, focusing on the fi nal proposals. working area.

Gridline [ 07 Feature Energy security Powering the

futureTwo recent projects by National Grid have signiﬁcantly enhanced the UK’s ability to source sufﬁcient supplies of affordable energy

THE 2020 ENERGY CHALLENGE IN NUMBERS 20GW 69% 34% of new generation required to of UK gas demand will be met by targeted reduction in greenhouse replace existing plants imports from abroad gas emissions

08 [ Gridline THE TWIN CHALLENGES OF Nearly a third of the UK’s existing generation energy security enhancement because it tackling climate change and meeting energy capacity will retire by that date, including helps increase the diversity of gas suppliers security needs are driving a transformation older nuclear power stations, as well as oil- and supply routes. in the way the UK generates and manages and coal-fired power stations that do not With North Sea reserves in decline, the its energy requirements. meet new EU carbon emission regulations. UK imported more than 50 per cent of its To combat climate change, the UK is Sourcing more renewable energy, that gas in 2010 and that figure could rise to committed to reducing carbon emissions by diversifies energy supplies and cuts carbon 70 per cent in 2020. At the same time, 34 per cent by 2020, and sourcing 15 per emissions at the same time, is part of the global demand for gas will increase by cent of its energy from renewable sources. answer, as are new nuclear power stations 44 per cent by 2035, according to the At the same time, the government has a and energy-efficiency initiatives to reduce International Energy Agency. duty to secure the energy supplies the nation overall demand. Carbon Capture and Faced with the risk of becoming needs at an affordable cost to consumers Storage (CCS) ‘clean energy’ technology, dependent on potentially unreliable gas and business. which traps CO2 emissions at coal-fired pipeline imports from volatile areas of the power stations and stores them so they can’t world, in the past few years the UK has (/(&75,&,7< enter the atmosphere, will also play a part. added new pipeline links to Norway and The completion of the 260km BritNed the Continent, and an additional LNG Interconnector subsea electricity link with *$6 terminal at Milford Haven. the Netherlands is just one element in a The expanded capacity at National Grid’s The ability to ship in LNG from strategy to bridge a potential 20 per cent liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation anywhere in the world is a significant part energy gap in electricity generation by 2020. terminal on the Isle of Grain is another key of the UK’s long-term energy strategy.

(1(5*<)/2: The BritNed Interconnector on the Isle of Grain 15% 30% £200bn targeted energy generation from targeted electricity generation investment in UK needed to keep renewable sources from renewable sources the lights on

Gridline [ 09 Feature Energy security

A sea change in energy A £1 billion investment has transformed a brownfi eld site on the Isle of Grain, about 30km east of London, into one of the world’s leading liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) importation terminals. The site is operated by Grain LNG, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid, and is one of four strategically located LNG terminals in the UK. The facility makes a *2/,$7+ The world’s largest Q-Max vital contribution to the UK’s energy security LNG tankers berth at the site by helping to offset dwindling North Sea gas reserves. Meanwhile, the increased When customers want the gas delivered, competition between LNG and piped gas it is pumped from the tanks into vapourisers, suppliers puts pressure on prices. where it is heated from a liquid back into a LNG provides a link to so-called ‘stranded’ gas at 5˚C, before entering the gas pipeline reserves of gas in distant parts of the world transmission system for delivery to homes (not served by gas pipelines) and its supply and businesses. route is less vulnerable to political upheaval National Grid is now assessing the market than piped gas. appetite for more capacity at the Grain The Grain terminal has been expanded importation terminal, which could trigger a twice since commercial operations there further phase of expansion. started in July 2005, with the latest phase raising throughput capacity to 14.8 million tonnes a year. That’s 20 per cent of the UK’s current gas demand. LNG is natural gas, cooled to around -162˚C, where it liquefi es and occupies about 600 times less space than at standard temperature and pressure. Vessels arriving from North Africa, the £1bninvestment in the Grain LNG site Middle East and the Caribbean berth at two state-of-the-art jetties that can unload the world’s largest Q-Max LNG ships. The LNG is pumped via a 4.5km cryogenic pipeline to the above-ground storage tanks where it is stored at low pressure. Each tank is bigger than the Royal Albert Hall. Cutting carbon footprint The importation terminal previously used natural gas as fuel to convert the super- cooled LNG back into gaseous form. Now, 14.8m however, excess heat from E.ON’s nearby tonnes LNG annual 1275MW gas-fi red power station is being throughput capacity used – in the form of hot water – to heat the LNG. The Combined Heat and Power scheme at the power station can transfer up to 340MW of heat energy to the LNG vapourisers. Making use of this process saves enough fuel to heat 241,000 homes 300,000 for a year and reduces carbon emissions by *5((1352-(&7Excess up to 300,000 tonnes a year. heat is used in LNG regasifi cation tonnes of CO2 emissions slashed

10 [ Gridline 260km of subsea cable 1,000MW BritNed’s capacity

that deliver the power. Each station houses six huge 240-tonne transformers that convert direct current (DC) electricity back into alternating current (AC) for onward transfer 1(::$9(2)(1(5*< LNG into the transmission system. importation terminals have provided Plugging into a wider European electricity access to sources of gas supply in market enables the UK to import its peak the Middle East and elsewhere energy needs more cheaply, rather than relying on expensive generation plant held in readiness. It also enables the UK to make use of the full potential of renewable energy from wind, by making it easier to import Plugging into Europe when wind is not available and export when there is a surplus. Providing about the same capacity as a The twin cables, buried beneath the The UK government predicts that more nuclear power station at a fraction of the seabed, transmit power in both directions. new interconnectors could follow, providing cost, the BritNed Interconnector is a 260km Power fl ows are decided by companies that up to 10GW of additional electricity fl owing long subsea electricity cable between the UK trade on BritNed, and are driven by supply under the North Sea, as part of a wider and the Netherlands. and demand patterns and price differentials ‘super-grid’ with other European countries. The UK’s fi rst interconnector with the between the two power markets. Netherlands went live in April. A joint It is the fi rst electricity connection between initiative between National Grid and its the UK and Europe since the IFA link with For more information… Dutch equivalent TenneT, the project involved France 25 years ago and was completed on visit www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/ the installation of a 1,000MW high-voltage time and within its €600 million budget. what_we_do/change_energy/european/ direct current (HVDC) subsea cable under the The twin cable bundle is connected to the european.aspx. More information on BritNed North Sea between the Isle of Grain, in Kent, transmission grids of the two countries via and Grain LNG can be found at www.britned. and Maasvlakte, near Rotterdam. two giant converter stations, the ‘sockets’ com and www.nationalgrid.com/uk/grainlng.

Gridline [ 11 Case study Renewable energy Green castle Dunster Castle is among the properties helping the National Trust to reduce its use of fossil fuels by more than 50 per cent over the next 10 years

THE NATIONAL TRUST’S FIRST application of solar panels to a Grade “We will have more 1 historic building – Dunster Castle in money to spend on the West Somerset – is proving that heritage conservation and renewable energy can places we look after, the happily coexist. countryside and wildlife” The Trust is one of the UK’s largest landowners and the guardian of Britain’s of transmission gas pipelines, overhead heritage, with over 300 historic houses power lines and underground cables. SOLAR ENERGY: and gardens in its care, as well as Dunster Castle, near Minehead, was The panels can be 1,100km of coastline and 627,000 acres bequeathed to the Trust in 1976 by the easily upgraded as of countryside. Luttrell family, who had resided there for newer technology It is also one of National Grid’s largest 600 years. Sitting on the top of a wooded emerges grantors, hosting hundreds of kilometres hill, the castle has panoramic views of the Bristol Channel below. The 24 solar panels, hidden from view within the battlements, supply the daily equivalent of the energy consumed by 1.5 family homes. In sunny weather, they power a signiﬁcant portion of the castle’s daily electricity requirements, and the

project saves more than 2,000kg of CO2 a year.

6(77,1*$1(;$03/( HIDDEN POWER: Other measures to turn the property into Property manager Britain’s ‘greenest’ castle include installing Seamus Rogers energy-efﬁcient lighting, insulating part of and the carefully the roof and reducing water usage. concealed panels “The panels are secured to a framework attached to the walls, so they can be easily replaced when new technology emerges,” said property manager Seamus Rogers.

12 [ Gridline GRANDEUR: Dunster Castle has magniﬁcent views of the Bristol Channel

schemes, including hydropower, wind turbines, wood fuel stoves and boilers and solar panels. Medium to larger- scale energy schemes will make up the remainder of the target. The Trust has plans to signiﬁcantly reduce its reliance on heating oil, by installing wood fuel boilers in properties, using fuel from its own estates, wherever feasible, or from local sustainable sources. The National Trust in numbers &267&877,1* Moving away from a reliance on oil and other fossil fuels for heating and electricity is expected to cut carbon 3.8 emissions by 44 per cent – the equivalent 40 of taking 4,500 cars off the road. thousand million It will also help the organisation save volunteers members a signiﬁcant portion of the £6 million it spends annually on light and heating for its buildings. It is anticipated most of the schemes will break even in 10 years. “By cutting our energy consumption 300 76 and generating more from renewable houses and gardens nature reserves sources, we will have more money to spend on the places we look after, the countryside and wildlife, and a more sustainable and resilient operation,” “We hope to set a good example for schemes in place at Trust properties, with said Fiona Reynolds, the National Trust’s managers of other historic properties, by a total capacity of 2.3MW of heating and director-general. showing how energy conservation is not over 1MW of electricity. just for modern buildings.” Meeting the target will involve cutting SHININGThe National EXAMPLE: Trust has an ambitious energy use for electricity and heating For more information… planDunster to generate Castle’s 50Seamus per cent of its by 20 per cent, through energy-saving on how the National Trust is tackling energyRogers use with by the renewables 24 solar or low-carbon measures such as improved lighting and its energy consumption visit http:// technologiespanels hidden within behind 10 the years. There are insulation, and installing a range of ‘grow www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-energy- alreadybattlements more than 140 renewable energy your own’ micro and small-scale energy report-2010.pdf.

Gridline [ 13 Safety Near overhead power lines In the line of

FIREThe potential hazards of stacking materials under or close to overhead power lines were dramatically underlined in October last year ABLAZE: The fire brigade tackles the IN THE EARLY HOURS OF huge stacks 13 October 2010 National Grid was alerted to a serious straw bale fire under a section of the Keadby to Cottam 275kV overhead power line at Misterton, North Andy Horton, watch Lincolnshire. Some 1,800 half-tonne bales manager Misterton fire of straw in three large stacks were ablaze. The bales were being stored by an station, Nottinghamshire agricultural contractor on a roadside area Fire & Rescue earmarked for development as industrial units by grantor Simon Howarth. The Simon Howarth, grantor “Fires like these can straw, which had a value of £45,000, had be very frustrating been sold on contract and was awaiting “I was alerted to the because they take a transport to Holland. fire at about 12.30am long time to bring Both circuits of the overhead line were and arrived at the under control and tie switched out, the main access road to the scene to see the stacks up resources. We spent village closed, and a five-mile diversion burning fiercely, with 16 hours at this incident, put in place to protect the public, in case the fire brigade and with about 20 firefighters from two the heat caused the overhead conductors police in attendance. counties involved at its height. Another to fall across the road. “On the third day the fire had died 8 to 10 hours over the next three After initially damping down the blaze, down sufficiently for me to move the days were devoted to dealing with the fire brigade decided to let the stacks smouldering bales away from the line the aftermath. burn themselves out. Only on the third using a JCB, under supervision of the fire “Fires near overhead lines present day was it possible to move bales from brigade. I also helped clear miscanthus particular risks beyond the usual under the conductors and for National grass from the approaches to the affected problems of flames and smoke. Falling Grid to start recovery operations. towers to enable repairs. lines, or a flash-over from a conductor All the bottom phase conductors on a “The whole episode was an alarming can damage equipment, or even 450-metre section of the line had to be experience and a real eye-opener. In the electrocute or burn a firefighter. replaced because of heat damage. Six future I certainly won’t be allowing any “The dangers, the level of input days after starting repairs – 10 days after structures of this nature anywhere near required and the lack of water supply the fire broke out – the re-conductoring the overhead power lines.” at remote locations are just some of the was finally complete and power restored. reasons why we may let a fire burn itself

14 [ Gridline Mike Rockett, lands officer east “My role was to liaise with the grantor, the local community and to contact neighbouring landowners to arrange access for the repairs. “Our advice is that farmers should consider carefully where to site stacks well in advance of any harvesting work. They should also lower loading equipment when passing under overhead power lines. “It is not possible to guess what a REMEMBER safe clearance is. Conductor sag can be Never reduce the affected by the electrical load on the line clearance under overhead and air temperature, for example, so lines by dumping or tipping always take advice from National Grid waste material, erecting before erecting any structures near a line. structures, buildings or “The heat from the fire even caused damage to nearby concrete barriers, which haystacks, or creating the Environment Agency maintains to storage areas protect residential housing near the River under lines. Trent from the risk of flooding.”

out, leaving us to concentrate on protecting adjacent crops or buildings instead. Tony Holmes, overhead “Our advice to farmers and other line delivery engineer landowners is to build stacks in a visible location to deter anyone from starting a fire “The main danger deliberately and to increase the chances of an was that the fire and early warning if a fire does start. heat would bring the “Keep straw and haystacks at a reasonable conductors down over size to minimise potential loss and the the public highway, amount of intervention from firefighters. which was why a Also, they should position stacks well away safety cordon was from buildings or other structures to reduce established and the road closed. the risks of further damage if the stacks do “The proximity of a gas pressure catch alight, and to make it easier and safer reduction valve under the line also for fire crews to manage the situation.” meant that we couldn’t deploy protective scaffolding over the highway, so it had to remain closed until repairs STILL BURNING: were concluded. REPAIRS: The Tony with the straw “You don’t have to be in contact with conductors are bales still ablaze an overhead power line to receive an lowered prior to after three days replacement electric shock. In certain circumstances, smoke can also conduct electricity. “Stacks should be at least 5.3 metres from an overhead line, and preferably For more information… much further away. Always consult us if on Avoidance of Danger from Overhead you are uncertain about the safety of a Electric Power Lines, download the HSE structure near an overhead line.” GS6 guidance booklet free from www.hse. gov.uk/pubns/priced/gs6.pdf.

Gridline [ 15 Grantor proﬁle Abbey Parks Farm TOPTIPS There’s nothing quite like the taste of asparagus in season, according to Lincolnshire asparagus growers Nick and Ros Loweth

THE DELICIOUSLY SWEET AND and The Bluebird Food Store. They are also among tender taste of British asparagus has Rick Stein’s Food Heroes. rightly won the ‘queen of vegetables’ a special place in the public’s affections. 1,&+(0$5.(7 The excitement as retailers scramble The couple purchased the 530-acre farm on prime to obtain the first crop is heightened grade 1 Lincolnshire Fen silt 24 years ago, after by the fact that the traditional farming in Cambridgeshire. Nick is a third-generation asparagus season lasts just 8 to 12 farmer and the couple’s children, Harry and Sophie, weeks, from around St George’s both work in the family business. Day (23 April) to the end of June. Three quarters of the farm’s acreage is given over to Its appearance, for many people, is wheat production. Other crops include potatoes, rape, associated with the promise of warmer vining peas, onions and sugar beet, as well as a range summer days ahead. of speciality herbs such as rosemary, chives, parsley, British asparagus used to be a coriander, dill, fennel and thyme. rare treat, mostly enjoyed in top “We started growing an acre of asparagus in 1995 restaurants, but the vegetable has seen because, basically, we liked eating it and it was a niche a remarkable rise in popularity. market at the time,” said Nick. “Each year we devoted Twenty-five years ago, just a few more and more land to the crop, but still ended up EXCELLENCE: farms up and down the country cultivated the crop, with more customers than asparagus.” Nick says that British but by 2010 UK sales had risen to £21.4 million. A farm shop and cafe, added in 2002, provide an asparagus can’t be New hardy varieties, the use of underground outlet for selling fruit and vegetables from other local beaten for taste heating and polytunnels, as well as foreign imports, farmers, as well as speciality cheeses, jams, dairy ice notably from Peru, have all increased availability. cream and fresh ready-made meals using as much home-grown and local produce as possible. %5,7,6+$63$5$*86 A range of products can also be purchased online, But according to many top chefs, the only time to eat including asparagus crowns, enabling people to have asparagus is when it’s in season – and preferably it a go at growing the vegetables themselves. should be British asparagus in season. Abbey Parks Farm supplies the trade through a “Freshness is critical. Once you cut the spear from wholesale operation in Nottingham and delivers the crown, the sugars start to turn to starch,” said directly to 200 local outlets in Lincolnshire and Nick Loweth, one of the country’s top growers at Nottinghamshire, including other farm shops, local Abbey Parks Farm, near Boston, Lincolnshire. restaurants, pubs, cafes, schools and residential homes. “While home-grown asparagus is picked daily These days, the farm’s asparagus production has during its brief season and is in the shops within been scaled back from a peak of 35 acres to a more 48 hours, imported spears from Peru may be in refrigerated transport for up to a week. And on top of that, our temperate climate and the slower growing conditions create more complex flavours.” “The slower growing Nick and his wife Ros, who are National Grid gas grantors, have supplied some of the country’s leading conditions create more restaurants including J Sheekeys, Quaglino’s and The Ivy, as well as prestigious retailers Fortnum & Mason complex flavours”

16 [ Gridline

Health food “We add fertiliser in the spring but… One of nature’s super foods, asparagus is high in vitamin C, folic asparagus is not a hungry crop” acid and ﬁbre, contains antioxidants, which are believed to protect against cancer, and is low in calories, fat, manageable 15 acres, still enough to produce up to carbohydrates and salt, as well as 30 tonnes of spears a year. Part of the reason why it is being cholesterol free. the UK’s most expensive vegetable is that it ties up the ground and is labour-intensive to harvest. Asparagus is a hardy perennial and is From seed, asparagus takes three years to reach related to the lily family of plants (its the stage where it can be harvested. Crowns begin to cousins are onions and garlic). decline after about 10-12 years and another half an acre is planted each March. “We now only plant one- year-old crowns,” said Nick. “The ﬁrst year’s cutting pays for the establishment costs.”

)(57,/((19,5210(17 than two inches in 24 hours and picking is carried out The soil temperature needs to reach about 10˚C for daily. After cutting, the spears are washed and graded asparagus tips to start growing. Any late frosts will put with the larger diameter spears fetching higher prices. a brake on growth and can ruin the spears, although After harvesting, the plant produces a fern typically six it won’t harm the crown and new shoots will form feet high, which rejuvenates the crown. again. Abbey Parks Farm also grows a small amount A versatile vegetable, asparagus can be cooked in a under glass as an early-season offering. steamer, roasted or barbecued, and is even delicious The grade 1 silt soil of the Fens was reclaimed from raw. “Our favourite is to bake the spears, adding a the sea hundreds of years ago and provides a fertile sprinkling of sea salt, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and environment for vegetables and cereals. a dash of balsamic vinegar,” said Nick. “Brilliant.” The soil on the farm can be up to 15ft deep, and is A recent online initiative by Abbey Parks Farm is well drained but moisture retentive. The area has a tapping into the growing demand for fresh, locally mild, relatively dry climate with about 22-23 inches of grown produce, which is fully traceable. rainfall a year, which also suits asparagus. The i-grow concept invites people to rent a ‘virtual “The soil needs a PH of about 7.5 and so we add reality’ allotment for £1 a week. For a small additional fertiliser in the spring, but contrary to popular belief, fee they can stipulate the vegetables they want planted asparagus is not a hungry crop,” said Nick. “It has an in the eight rows allotted to them at Abbey Parks enormous root system that goes down about 12ft, and Farm. The harvested produce is delivered to their door, so it drags nutrients from the surrounding area.” or it can even be traded with other allotment holders Each season a single crown will produce about 25 through an online forum. spears. The pickers, mainly students and seasonal migrant workers, sit astride electric buggies to gather the crop, moving slowly along the raised beds. For more information… The asparagus shoots are cut to a length of nine on Abbey Parks Farm go to inches. In warm weather the tips can grow by more www.abbeyparksasparagus.co.uk.

18 [ Gridline Out&About ;OLSH[LZ[UL^ZMYVTNational GridHUKP[ZUH[PVU^PKLNYHU[VYUL[^VYR

MAPPING THE FUTURE FOR NATURE (ZLYPLZVMVUSPUL JVSV\YJVKLKTHWZ HYLUV^H]HPSHISLMYVT 5H[\YHS,UNSHUK[V OLSWMHYTLYZJOVVZL [OLILZ[,U[Y`3L]LS :[L^HYKZOPWZJOLTL 4VYLPUMVYTH[PVUH[! ^^ÛH[\YHSLUNSHUK VYN\RV\Y^VYR MHYTPUNM\UKPUNLZ $FXWDERYHWKHUHVW HNLU[ZLSZVW[PVUZ Fourteen members of National Grid’s south- of trees, cleared brambles and overgrown IN THE SWIM west lands officer team made short work of an bushes,” said Paul Swinbourne, lands officer -V\YSHUKZVMÄJLYZ overgrown patch of ground recently, during a south-west. National Grid will also install HYLPU[YHPUPUNMVY[OPZ community support day in the Cotswolds to new fence posts and a five-bar gate to improve `LHY»Z=PYNPU(J[P]L create space for additional allotments. accessibility to the allotments. 3VUKVU;YPH[OSVUVU The project was in the village of Kineton, in “The parish council has very limited 1\S`[VYHPZLTVUL` the picturesque Windrush Valley. The location resources for such initiatives, so National MVY:WLJPHS6S`TWPJZ is close to the route of the Wormington to Grid’s support really made a difference and has 1HTLZ+LHUZ0HU Sapperton high-pressure gas pipeline, which helped bring residents together in the allotment 4J2LUUH+H]PK National Grid completed in late 2010. project,” said Zoe Hobbs, chairwoman of 2UV^SLZHUK4PJOHLS “The team used chainsaws to fell a number Temple Guiting Parish Council. +\[[VU^PSS[HJRSLH TZ^PTMVSSV^LK I`HRTIPRLYPKL HUKHRTY\U Green treasures WEDDING SPIKE In 2010 it was National Grid; in 2011 it’s the turn highlighting the vital role National Parks play (4>KLTHUK of the National Parks movement to celebrate its in conserving wildlife, promoting healthier Z\YNLK\YPUN[OLYV`HS 75th anniversary. lifestyles and building sustainable communities, ^LKKPUN^HZ[OL The Campaign for National Parks was set up the organisation wants to encourage more people MV\Y[OOPNOLZ[Z\YNL by a group of passionate enthusiasts in 1936 to to enjoy the Parks and to be more involved in L]LYK\L[VH[LSL]PZLK call for greater access to Britain’s finest landscapes. protecting these precious landscapes in the future. WYVNYHTTL:\JO It was instrumental in bringing about the Act of National Grid is a founder member of the Z\YNLZVJJ\YH[UH[\YHS Parliament that enabled the Parks in 1949, and is Corporate Forum for National Parks, which IYLHRZPU;=JV]LYHNL just as active today in safeguarding all 13 members brings together companies that are committed ÔLU]PL^LYZNL[ of the National Parks family. to maintaining the value of National Parks V\[VM[OLPYZLH[ZHUK To mark the anniversary, the CNP has adopted for conservation and recreation through the Z^P[JOVUSPNO[ZVYIVPS the theme Get into the National Parks. Besides development and application of their policies. RL[[SLZMVYHJ\WWH

Gridline [ 19 Contact details Tel: 01926 656 325 Email: [email protected] LastWord Website: www.nationalgrid.com @V\YJOHUJL[VLU[LY[^VNYLH[JVTWL[P[PVUZ

Win a Marks & Spencer Photo giftcard competition 4 :NPM[JHYKZJHUIL ZWLU[H[V]LY4 : On the straight Z[VYLZPU[OL<2VY and narrow VUSPULVUMHZOPVUMVVK LU[LY[HPUTLU[OVTL *VUNYH[\SH[PVUZ[V HJJLZZVYPLZHUKTVYL >VYJLZ[LYZOPYLNYHU[VY ;OLS\JR`^PUULY^PSS 4HYR)SHRL^H`[OL YLJLP]L[OLNPM[JHYK¶ ^PUULYVM[OLSHZ[WOV[V ZPTPSHY[VHJYLKP[JHYKPU JVTWL[P[PVU;OLWOV[V ZPaL¶^OPJO^PSSIL ZOV^ZH.7:N\PKLK WYLSVHKLK^P[O [YHJ[VYºILKMVYTPUN»MVYH 7SLHZLUV[LNPM[JHYKZ UL^WV[H[VJYVWPU4HYJO HYL]HSPKMVYTVU[OZ MYVT[OLSHZ[[YHUZHJ[PVU HUK[OLIHSHUJLJHUUV[ ILJVU]LY[LKIHJR PU[VJHZO;OL`JHUUV[ ILHJJLW[LKMVY THKL[VTLHZ\YLZOPY[Z :LQDVXSHUFDUGULYH VYSHYNLHWWSPHUJLZ ;VILPU^P[OHJOHUJL Enter Gridline’s competition to win a Treatme driver experience VM^PUUPUNHU4 : NPM[JHYKZPTWS`HUZ^LY GRIDLINE HAS TEAMED UP [OLMVSSV^PUNX\LZ[PVU again with Treatme, a leading provider of JVYYLJ[S`! driver experience days, to give the winner of this issue’s photo competition the Q WHAT PERCENTAGE chance to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo OF THE UK’S GAS – one of the world’s top supercars. DEMAND IS THE Driving the Gallardo is normally the GRAIN LNG TERMINAL preserve of Premiership footballers, but CAPABLE OF MEETING? with an expert instructor at their side, ITINERARY the winner will be able to sample the :LUK`V\YHUZ^LY power of the V10 engine for themselves s7ELCOMEANDREGISTRATION [V.YPKSPUL4 : s)NTRODUCTIONANDSAFETYBRIElNGONTHECIRCUITAND at one of eight circuits nationwide. *VTWL[P[PVU DRIVINGTECHNIQUES The theme for this issue’s competition s!SESSIONDRIVINGTHE,AMBORGHINI'ALLARDO >H[LYSVV7SHJL>HY^PJR is ‘light’. Send in your selected photo s(IGH SPEEDPASSENGERRIDE :[YLL[3LHTPUN[VU:WH to Gridline Photo Competition, 23- s4HEINSTRUCTORWILLGIVEYOUASHORTDEBRIEFAND >HY^PJRZOPYL*=3( 25 Waterloo Place, Warwick Street, COMPLETEYOURDRIVERANALYSISFORMAFTEREACHDRIVE 7SLHZLUV[L`V\T\Z[IL Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 s#OLLECTIONOFYOURDRIVINGCERTIlCATE HNYHU[VY[VLU[LY*SVZPUN 5LA, or email your photo to gridline@ KH[LPZ(\N\Z[ uk.ngrid.com. The closing date is 2ESTRICTIONS 4 August 2011. Only National Grid 9OUMUSTHOLDAFULLMANUALDRIVINGLICENCE BELESS grantors are eligible to enter. THANvTALLANDWEIGHLESSTHANSTONE

IMPORTANT NOTICE .YPKSPULWYPU[LKHUPUJVYYLJ[JSVZPUNKH[LVM 1\S`MVY[OLJVTWL[P[PVUZPU[OL:WYPUNPZZ\L[OL KH[LZOV\SKOH]LILLU (WYPS(^PUULYOHK[VILZLSLJ[LK[OLYLMVYLPUTP[PNH[PVUHSSLU[YPLZYLJLP]LKMVYSHZ[PZZ\L»Z JVTWL[P[PVUZHM[LY (WYPSHUK\W[V 1\S`^PSSH\[VTH[PJHSS`ILLU[LYLKPU[VHKYH^MVYVMZOVWWPUN]V\JOLYZ