The magazine for National Grid grantors Spring 2010

Green gas The Cheshire grantor turning waste into energy Back on track National Grid restores heritage railway bridge Nature’s way Profile of Linking Environment And Farming

Hooked on safety

New signage keeps anglers aware of hazards

Also in this issue: project round-up, Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, win a balloon flight

J3381 Cover.indd 1 15/03/2010 16:53 Contents 16-17

08-09

nATiOnAl gRid’S lAnd And dEvElOpmEnT gROUp nEWS 07 is responsible for acquiring all rights and permissions from 04 Join National Grid at a statutory authorities and landowners needed to install, operate county show and maintain National Grid’s electricity and gas transmission 05 Why Welsh salmon are networks. The Group acts as the main interface for landowners jumping for joy who have gas and electricity equipment installed on their land. 07 National Grid restores Listed below are your local Land and Development team contacts. heritage railway bridge ElEcTRiciTy And gAS Grid can be made on 0800 FEATURES ■ North west and Scotland 404 090. Note the tower’s 10-11 How turning waste into 0161 776 0706 number – found just below renewable energy could help ■ South east 01268 642 091 the property plate – to help meet climate change targets ■ South west 01452 316 059 crews locate it. gRAnTOR pROFilE ■ East 0113 290 8235. ElEcTRic And SAFETy 08-09 The once neglected WAylEAvE pAymEnTS mAgnETic FiEldS Marks Hall country estate in 16-17 National Grid and an ■ For information on ■ For information on electric Essex has been transformed angling club have pooled their wayleave payments, telephone and magnetic fields, call the into an arboretum and gardens resources to enhance safety at the payments helpline on 0800 EMF information line on the fishing lakes 389 5113. 08457 023 270 (local call rate). cOmpETiTiOn pAgE ElEcTRiciTy EmERgEncy Website: www.emfs.info. EnviROnmEnT 20 Your chance to win a ■ Emergency calls to report gAS EmERgEncy 18-19 Focus on Linking fabulous balloon flight and pylon damage to National ■ 0800 111 999. Environment And Farming a Sony digital camera

02 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 2-3.indd 1 15/03/2010 17:02 GOT A STORY? CALL 01926 656 20 325 or email gridline@ uk.ngrid.com. Or write to CONGRATULATIONS TO Gridline, Summersault, 23-25 JULIE HUBBARD, GRIDLINE’S Waterloo Place, Warwick PHOTO COMPETITION WINNER (DETAILS PAGE 20) Welcome to St, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5LA. LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE FOR DEVON GRANTORS Congratulations to Liz and David Moore of Cleave Farm, near Bideford, Devon, the I’m Angela Ford and it’s a particular pleasure to greet you for winners of the Sony digital the  rst time as the new editor of Gridline. It’s been a busy few camera competition in the last months for me, getting to know the job, journeying round the issue of Gridline. country to meet the team and working on a number of projects It’s the second time the couple – including our county show programme, which you can  nd have been picked out of the hat in less than 12 months. out more about on page 4. David and Liz run a dairy I know many of you look forward to reading Gridline and farm with 500 cows and also over the coming months we are introducing a number of new devote some of their land to features, which we hope will increase your enjoyment of the magazine still further. producing feed for the herd. Starting from this issue, for example, we’ve got four pages of news, enabling us to “Last year we were lucky include more of your stories, and preview more events. enough to win a Sony Handycam in the Gridline Our feature on page 10 looks at how a technology called anaerobic digestion (AD) competition, which we gave to could help the UK to reduce the amount of waste sent to land ll – and the greenhouse our grandson, and I’m looking gases which are emitted – while at the same time meeting renewable energy targets. forward to using the digital See page 12 to learn about grantor Phil Pearson, who is using an AD plant to process camera to enter the photo green waste from his tomato growing business. ‰ e process has a number of useful competition,” said Liz. outputs, such as CO2, which is recycled to the glasshouses to boost the crop, and biogas, which can be burned in a Combined Heat and Power unit to produce electricity. GET IN TOUCH ‰ e grantor pro le on page 8 focuses on Marks Hall estate in Essex. In a derelict Please contact Gridline if: condition a’ er World War Two, a fascinating new garden area and an arboretum ■ You have any news which you have now been created for visitors to explore. think would be of interest to other grantors On page 16 we visit an angling club in Cheshire, where the grantor has worked with ■ You think that your business or his local lands o– cer to heighten awareness about the potential dangers of coming into hobby would make a good article contact with the overhead power lines that cross the  shing lakes. ■ You have any suggestions for Turn to page 18 for our pro le on Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) topics you would like to see covered – a national charity that highlights to the public the vital role that farmers play in in Gridline. producing wholesome food. Many National Grid grantors are LEAF members and we Gridline is produced by are proud to be one of LEAF’s corporate sponsors. Summersault Communications, Finally, turn to page 20 to win an opportunity to take to the skies with Virgin 23-25 Waterloo Place, Leamington Balloon Flights or to win a fantastic Sony digital camera. Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5LA. To contact Gridline you can either phone 01926 656 325, email [email protected] or write to the above address. Editor, Gridline

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J3381 Gridlinepg 2-3.indd 2 15/03/2010 17:03 UPDATE Key stories from National Grid and its nationwide grantor network

Grantor wins farming’s top award Leicestershire gas grantor Farm to Fork education Nick Padwick has been named initiative, which brings food the UK’s Farmer of the Year and farming to life for primary in a prestigious national school children. competition, organised by The programme began when Farmers Weekly magazine. Nick and his wife Michelle Nick, who manages The invited local schoolchildren Co-operative Farms’ 4,500- to see how cereal crops were acre Stoughton Estate, near produced on the farm. Since Leicester, emerged as the then, the scheme has expanded overall winner from a shortlist to seven other farms, all of 16 category winners. In owned or operated by The addition to managing the Co-operative Farms, and more estate, he established the than 20,000 children have aWard: Nick Padwick (second from right) collecting his award from (left to right) Jane King, editor of Farmers Weekly, Hilary Benn MP and tV highly successful From enjoyed farm visits. presenter and awards compère Julia Bradbury

Announcing this year’s county shows

Grantors attending five major county shows this summer will once again receive a very warm welcome from National Grid. Selected grantors will receive a free show pass and an invitation to join National Grid for lunch. Inevitably, the number of guests that can be accommodated in the marquee is restricted, so invitations are limited. Outside the busy lunch period all grantors are welcome to enjoy refreshments in the marquee. At the Royal Welsh Show, for the first time in recent years, the marquee will Engineering the future also be open to the general public on all four days of the event, enabling visitors to olunteer engineers from National “These kids are the engineers of the future,” find out more about National Grid and its Grid and the South West Electricity said Steve Self, National Grid and Electricity commitment to the environment and the Alliance, who are working on a Alliance development manager for the South communities in which it works. Vproject to build a new substation in West Alliance. “We’re really keen to provide Felindre, South Wales, are helping youngsters fun, hands-on activities that encourage them JOIN NatIONal GrId at: at Llangyfelach Primary School, Swansea, to to work as a team and find out how things 10-12 June, royal explore the exciting world of engineering. work, while learning some fundamental Cornwall Show The Imagineering Club, which operates after engineering principles.” 22-23 June, Cheshire Show school hours, presents a weekly opportunity The group has also received backing from 23-24 June, lincolnshire Show for Year 5 and 6 pupils to get an insight into the the BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory scientist Jem 24-27 June, royal Highland Show world of engineering and technology that may Stansfield, who has sent each child a personally 19-22 July, royal Welsh Show inspire their future career choices. signed photograph.

04 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 4-7.indd 1 15/03/2010 17:18 One-minute interview

Tim Skuse Job: lands officer south-west Start date: March 2009

Background: I joined National Grid from a national firm of estate agents specialising in selling country houses and estates. qualifications: I’m currently working towards qualifying as a rural practice chartered surveyor. family matters: Having recently relocated with my wife Jo and daughter Bethan from the Thames Valley region, I now live in a village on the edge of the Cotswolds area. relaxation: All things mechanical. Any FRESH START: An spare time is spent restoring excavator clears one classic Series 1 Land Rovers, of the river passages much to my wife’s dismay! like aBout the joB: I enjoy meeting grantors from a wide variety of backgrounds. Welsh rivers project wins enjoy reading: First Overland by Tim Slessor, about an expedition from vital new funding London to Singapore in 1955 – by Series 1 Land Rover! he success of river improvement Grid part-funded three schemes on the Nant Pet hate: schemes part-funded by National Grid Myddyfi tributary to enable salmon to swim Discourteous drivers. during the Milford Haven pipeline upstream more easily to their traditional Tproject has helped secure valuable new spawning areas. funding for the work of the Camarthenshire “We’re very grateful to National Grid for Rivers Trust (CRT) in Wales. its financial and moral support in making Enjoying full charitable status, the CRT is a these early joint projects a success,” said CRT volunteer-run organisation dedicated to the chairman Gethyn Thomas. “Being able to point preservation of rivers for their environmental to a successful track record was a key factor in value and economic benefit to the community. securing this future backing.” Now it has received a £525,000 grant from the Around 150km of new fish-spawning habitat Welsh Assembly Government and European will be created as a result of the latest funding, Fisheries Fund towards further habitat through barrier removals and the construction restoration work in the region. of 120 fish passes, while some 32km of acidified Along with the Environment Agency Wales headwaters will be limed to restore water and Camarthenshire County Council, National quality in the rivers.

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J3381 Gridlinepg 4-7.indd 2 15/03/2010 17:18 UPDATE Key stories from National Grid and its nationwide grantor network

Your take on the severe weather

“The lead-up to Christmas is always a hectic time for our family business selling speciality oven-ready ducks and so it was a worry when snow in some parts of the country threatened to disrupt deliveries. But all the mail orders reached customers in time for the big day and we managed to get our van through to the local farm shops and butchers.” Keeping the gas supplies Debbie bakeWell, bakeWell DuCks, near kiDDerMinster flowing in the big freeze “It’s been one of the hardest winters he worst cold snap in more than 30 to residential users.” The deficit was made up by in a long time. Our years created an unparalleled demand gas from gas storage sites, subsea interconnectors Highland ponies are for gas in January, as the nation turned with Belgium and Holland, and Liquified hardy animals and Tup the heating thermostat. Natural Gas imports. were able to dig down Sub-zero conditions and a series of supply More than 100 large companies were involved through the 15 inches of losses from Norwegian importation pipelines in temporary interruptions to supply, as National snow to get at the grazing, led to National Grid issuing four Gas Balancing Grid Gas Distribution asked suppliers to invoke but they still needed extra Alerts in a week. These are a signal to the market clauses in special ‘interruptible’ contracts. haylage. We also had to to increase gas supplies or reduce demand. “These are one of the tools used to balance the thaw out drinking troughs “On each occasion the market made up gas network,” said Mark Freeman, National Grid and water pipes in barns the shortfall in supply by the end of the day,” Gas Distribution’s control centre commercial where we over-winter cattle.” said Andy Malins, National Grid’s acting gas manager. “Some large firms pay lower gas Jean ralston, Moss-siDe highlanD operations manager. “At no stage was there transportation charges, in return for switching Ponies, Perth actually any danger of gas supplies running out to alternative fuels at times of extreme demand.” “On one day we had to discard around 2,500 litres of milk, worth more than £800, when Explore the Cotswolds the milk tanker could not get through the National Grid is a sponsor of the National Grid liaised closely with the snow and ice. Water troughs Winchcombe Cotswolds Walking Festival, festival organiser – the Winchcombe for our Holstein-Friesian from 21 to 23 May, held in some of the UK’s Walkers are Welcome group – in advance of cows also froze and we had most beautiful countryside. the Wormington to Sapperton gas pipeline to refill them using 900-litre The three-day programme includes walks project (see page 14-15). Footpath diversions tanks of water transported to suit all abilities, from a strenuous hike are in place at sites affected by the works. by a JCB.” Julia Page, Moreton along the world-famous Cotswold Way to a To reserve a place on a walk, or to find out Morrell College ramble through Winchcombe’s historic town more, go to the organiser’s website at FarM, WarWiCkshire centre. All walks are led by experts. www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com.

06 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 4-7.indd 3 15/03/2010 17:18 TEAM EFFORT: (left) Paul Swinbourne and John Balderstone with the new railway bridge in the background

Helping to bridge the gap ational Grid has kept a promise made, more than 20 years ago, to replace a railway bridge on a steam heritage line Keeping the gas supplies Nin the Cotswolds. Laverton bridge is owned by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR), which operates a fl owing in the big freeze 20-mile return service between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse. GWR granted Transco (which later merged with National Grid) permission to remove the bridge in 1988 in order for heavy equipment to be moved along the unclassiƒ ed access road to Wormington compressor station, which was being modiƒ ed. „ e licence was conditional on the bridge being reinstated within 21 years. Having extended the line to Cheltenham Racecourse seven years ago, GWR turned its attention to restoring the bridge so that services could, in time, run another ƒ ve miles in the opposite direction from Toddington to Broadway. “GWR made contact and we agreed to co-operate THE GWR IS fully with the project,” said Paul Swinbourne, MAKING TRACKS National Grid lands oŽ cer south-west. “A key 2010 is a special year for GWR priority was that the bridge deck would meet all current structural, as well as railway, standards.” STEAM IN ACTION: (below) as it marks the 175th anniversary The railway’s Foremarke of the Great Western Railway, which It was decided to install a new double-track Hall locomotive emerges originally operated the route. A nine-day concrete bridge, rather than restore the original steel from a tunnel celebration event is planned for 29 May-6 June. structure, which had su“ ered from corrosion. Besides the spectacular Cotswold scenery, the Work on the bridge ƒ nished in December. “„ e railway features one of the longest tunnels on new deck weighs about 150 tonnes, compared to its a preserved railway and a 15-arch viaduct 24-tonne predecessor, and has a design life of 120 at Stanway. Services run from March on years,” said GWR’s bridge engineer John Balderstone. most weekends and bank holidays until “A lot of hard work has gone into the rebuild and December. More information at we’re extremely pleased with the result. We’re also www.gwsr.com. very grateful to National Grid for honouring an agreement made more than two decades ago.”

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J3381 Gridlinepg 4-7.indd 4 15/03/2010 17:19 Grantor profile paradise restored a once-grand country estate that fell into disrepair and neglect has been reincarnated as gardens and an arboretum visited by more than 30,000 people each year

arks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, Americas, Asia and the Southern Hemisphere. near Coggeshall, in the heart of “Forming the backbone of the collection are rural Essex, appears to be very plants and trees selected for their known Mmuch the traditional English scientific value, or because their native habitat is estate, complete with ornamental lakes and a under threat,” said Jonathan. 17th century walled garden. But things could One such area is called Gondwanaland (a have turned out very differently. super continent that existed 200 million years The estate (an electricity grantor) was left in ago) created on a 10-acre site. trust to the nation by its owner Thomas Phillips The planting includes a grove of 80 Wollemi Price in 1932, who believed that the ancient oak Pine, known to exist (from pollen and fossil woodlands and extensive gardens should be NEW SEASON: Vibrant colours are a feature of records) at the time of the dinosaurs. It was only preserved for future generations. He had hoped Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum in the spring in 1994 that a surviving remnant was discovered that the bequest would be taken on by the Royal in an isolated canyon outside Sydney. Botanical Gardens at Kew. that the bequest could not be refused and Ten years ago the walled garden was Nothing came of it at the time, and in the in 1971 the Thomas Phillips Price Trust was revitalised with a contemporary design by years that elapsed between his own death and established as a registered charity to administer Brita von Schoenaich. On the opposite bank that of his third wife in 1966, who held a life the restoration project,” said Richard Ramsey, is the winter garden, the vibrant scarlet red of interest, catastrophic changes befell the estate. agent for the trustees. dogwoods form a vivid contrast against the During World War Two the grounds became With the mansion gone, the trustees created bleach-white trunks of birch trees. a base for 2,500 air force personnel serving at a new focus by planting an arboretum on 120 The visitor centre, with its tea room and shop, nearby Earls Colne airfield. At the end of the acres released by the Forestry Commission. is housed in a 15th century timber-framed barn war, the barracks passed to the local authority Work also started on restoring the overgrown relocated from another part of the estate, and and were used as temporary housing for gardens, silted-up lakes, crumbling weirs and there are more than six miles of walks. displaced persons, many of whom came from dilapidated buildings, and new oaks were A £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery the East End. Sadly, most of the estate’s prized planted in restored parkland. Fund has just been awarded to Marks Hall veteran oaks were felled and large tracts leased “From the outset we decided not to try and towards access and learning improvements, to the Forestry Commission. recreate the past,” said Jonathan Jukes, who has including a network of hard paths in the Neglected and vandalised, the mansion been curator at Marks Hall since 1985. “There arboretum as well as educational resources was demolished in 1950 – at the time large was nothing left apart from the hard structures and interpretation boards. country houses were a liability and they were and so we had a free hand to create something Marks Hall has come a long way from the disappearing at a rate averaging one a week. new on the bones of the historic landscape.” dark days of the 1950s and 60s. “We’d like to “Despite serious misgivings, the director of The arboretum is arranged on a geographical think Mr Price would be pleased with how Kew and government officials took the decision theme with plantings grouped from Europe, the things have turned out,” said Richard.

08 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 8-9.indd 1 16/03/2010 15:07 GUIDING HAND: (left) Richard Ramsey; (above) The upper lake with graceful willows in the background

“Marks Hall is on the Braintree to Twinstead 400kV overhead power line and there are nine towers that cross the estate. I’ve Visit Marks visited the grantor on Hall Gardens The gardens and arboretum a number of occasions are open to the public Tuesday over the last 20 years in to Sunday from 30 March to 31 October 2010 and Friday to Sunday my capacity as a lands from 5 November to 19 December officer and it’s remarkable 2010. Open bank holiday Mondays how the place has been March to October and half-term holidays. Call 01373 563 796 or transformed into a visit www.markshall.org.uk. popular visitor attraction” Barry Cullimore lands officer south-east

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J3381 Gridlinepg 8-9.indd 2 15/03/2010 17:30 biogas DiGeStinG the problem how generating biogas in anaerobic digesters could accelerate the move to a low-carbon economy

upporters of anaerobic big facts To drive the adoption of AD more widely, digestion (AD) say it Defra invested £10 million in the creation of could be the ‘silver bullet’ l if you put all of the UK’s domestic five AD demonstration plants. The aim is to to address the UK’s food waste in an anaerobic digester have 1,000 farm-based AD units by 2020, as pressing renewable energy, it would generate enough electricity well as 100 larger facilities that process food energy security and waste for 350,000 households. and other commercial waste. Smanagement needs. l households throw away £12 According to the Renewable Energy The government predicts the technology billion of food every year, wasting Association (REA), renewable heat is the will be key to hitting targets to reduce carbon money and natural resources and sleeping giant of renewable energy because emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and increase contributing to climate change. heat dominates energy use in the UK and l the UK currently obtains about the proportion of energy from renewable produces 47 per cent of CO2 emissions. sources to 15 per cent in the same period. 2 per cent of its energy from For this reason, National Grid believes that AD is a process in which micro-organisms renewable sources. rather than using biogas from landfill and break down organic materials, such as food sewage treatment plants to generate electricity, waste, manures and slurries, green waste or it would be more efficient, where there is no energy crops, in the absence of oxygen, to use for the processed heat, to utilise it in the

produce biogas (mainly methane and CO2). gas network as a renewable heating fuel. Biogas can be burned in a Combined Heat The Company says a major contribution to and Power unit to generate electricity and heat Britain’s domestic heat demand could be met on-site, with surplus electricity sold to the by turning sewage, food waste and unwanted grid. With further processing it can be used as wood into biogas, which if cleaned and a fuel for transport or injected directly into the compressed to create biomethane, could be gas grid. directly injected into the grid. The process is carbon neutral because “Because the country already has an it provides energy with no net increase extensive gas grid, there would be little

in atmospheric CO2 . And with the UK need for infrastructure development or increasingly reliant on gas imports, AD has any requirement for customers to change CreAtinG enerGY: Daveyhulme sewage energy security of supply benefits too. treatment works where national Grid has teamed their appliances,” pointed out Dave Tilley of Converting biodegradable wastes to energy up with United Utilities on a pilot project National Grid’s Sustainable Gas Group. in an AD plant also helps to cut greenhouse National Grid is working jointly with United gas emissions from landfill. Methane from into energy makes good economic sense Utilities at the Daveyhulme sewage treatment decomposing waste makes up 4 per cent of too. Another benefit is that AD produces an works on a demonstration project, which will total UK emissions and as a greenhouse gas, organic nutrient-rich biofertiliser by-product, supply gas to homes in Manchester.

methane is 21 times more potent than CO2. avoiding use of scarce fossil fertiliser sources. With all its advantages in terms of getting As the cost of complying with waste More than 100 million tonnes of organic rid of waste, generating electricity or heat and disposal legislation increases (landfill tax material a year is suitable for AD in the UK, producing a usable fertiliser by-product, we rises to £48 a tonne in April), turning waste including 18-20 million tonnes of food waste. are sure to be hearing a lot more about AD.

10 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 10-13.indd 1 17/03/2010 11:14 WASTE MOUNTAIN: Using methane as an energy resource both displaces fossil fuel use and minimises emissions to the atmosphere

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J3381 Gridlinepg 10-13.indd 2 16/03/2010 11:27 biogas

Waste not want not an anaerobic digester developed by a Cheshire electricity MAKING BIOGAS: (below) The grantor has transformed a waste product into a valuable anaerobic digester can process up to 5,000 tonnes of green resource for the business waste a year

he glasshouses at A Pearson & Sons’ loop by putting in place measures to maximise (APS Ltd) nursery in Alderley Edge energy efficiency and cut emissions,” said Phil produce around 3,500 tonnes of vine Pearson, chairman of APS Ltd. Ttomatoes a year, mostly for Tesco. “Throughout the growing season – from The family-run business, formed more April to November – leaves must be constantly than 60 years ago, was presented with Tesco’s removed from the tomato stems, which first-ever environment award in 2008 for its previously resulted in some 5,000 tonnes of green environmentally friendly measures. waste sent to landfill. At £68 a tonne, including The tomato vines are supported by strings landfill tax, this was a significant cost to absorb suspended from the glasshouse roof and the and not very environmentally friendly.” plants are grown hydroponically in inert and To address this, Phil has worked with sterile Rockwool insulation material, while industrial gases specialist Steve Price over the being irrigated with nutrient-rich water via a last four years to develop a £500,000 anaerobic tanks for recycling back to the glasshouses. trickle lead. Tomatoes are produced without the digester (AD), capable of breaking down the The glasshouses are constantly monitored by use of pesticides, as natural insect predators are tough cellulose material into useful outputs. a computer-controlled system, which uses employed to control pests. The leaves are shredded and then passed the minimum amount of water and energy to “A major focus in the past 15 years has been through four vessels in what is a bio-refinery maintain the optimum humidity, temperature,

to step back and look at all the environmental rather than a conventional AD unit. Outputs light, water, nutrients and CO2, that tomatoes impacts of what we do and to try to close the from the AD include water and a nutrient-rich need for producing sugars. The system is also fed fertiliser liquid, which can be recycled back by real-time Met Office weather forecast data so

to the tomato plants, CO2 for the crops and a that it can accurately predict the plants’ needs. biogas, which is 97 per cent biomethane. Meanwhile, Phil is also looking at other uses One option is to use the biomethane to fuel for the biomethane produced in the AD. In a the nursery’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) compressed form it can be used as a transport unit, which heats the glasshouses and supplies fuel (enough to run six Tesco delivery vans for surplus electricity to the local town. a week) or injected into the gas grid.

CO2 from the AD unit and the CHP unit is Working with the University of York, Phil scrubbed to remove impurities and blown into is also looking at how the cellulose extracted BIRD’S EYE VIEW: The A Pearson & Sons nursery the glasshouses where it contributes to a higher from the AD process can be reused to provide from the air crop yield and tastier tomatoes. Any surplus heat a biodegradable cellophane packaging for the is stored in 600,000-litre capacity water storage firm’s tomatoes.

12 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 10-13.indd 3 16/03/2010 15:11 EXPERT VIEW Q&A TuRnIng gAs InTo cAsh

David Collins, who runs the uK Biogas group for the Renewable Energy Association (REA), explains what financial incentives are available for anaerobic digestion (AD)

Q What is the REA? somewhere in the region of £7 to £9 Q How effective are FITs? A The Renewable Energy million to construct. A The REA and Friends of the Association is the largest renewable Q What about on-farm Earth, who campaigned for FIT, energy industry association in the plants? hoped they would be the main tool UK, covering all renewable power A The simpler alternative is the to stimulate the development of heat and fuels. The association has farm model using its own slurries on-farm and community level units more than 500 members, including mixed with crops. To provide one without the need for grant funding. generators, project developers, fuel illustration, a 1MW electrical This looks unlikely at current levels, and power suppliers, equipment output in this category would need but the REA is engaged with the producers and service providers. 1,200 cows and 400 hectares of Department of Energy and Climate Q What is the role of the UK maize silage and cost around Change about increasing them. Biogas Group? £3.8 million to construct. You can Q What about renewable A It was formed by the Renewable expect between 15p and 16p per heat? Energy Association to work on kilowatt hour (kWh) from ROCs A The Renewable Heat Incentive overcoming barriers to AD. It for AD under the new bands, which Because you are (RHI) makes payments for every now has over 120 members, and came into force in April. Unlike producing some of kWh of renewable heat you 50 companies in the UK biogas the larger CADs, smaller on-farm your own power, produce. It is proposed that the industry regularly attend its facilities don’t appear to be viable on you will also buy scheme will be paid for either bimonthly meetings. ROCs without grant funding. less electricity and through general taxation or through Q What are Renewable Q How much can you earn a levy from sales of gas and other Obligation Certificates? from waste? so… pay less for it fuels used for heating. It comes into A ROCs are green certificates that A You can expect around 90 cubic force in April 2011 and the proposed can be issued to those generating metres of biogas from a tonne month, and are paid by electricity tariff for injection into the gas grid is their own renewable energy. For of food waste, 190 cubic metres suppliers for electricity generating 4p per kWh. Biomethane injection every MWh generated, the owner from maize silage and 20 cubic technologies. They apply to installed has opened up huge opportunities receives a payback from a licensed metres from cow slurry. Bearing in capacity up to 5MW and, in the case to use all of the biogas energy electricity utility company. mind that only 35 per cent of the of biogas, consist of a generation produced beyond the existing Q Who do they benefit? energy is converted to electricity in tariff (9p for more than 500kW or incentives for electricity. The RHI A Since the introduction of double Combined Heat and Power units, 11.5p for more than 550kW) and an also includes benefit for heat from ROCs per MWh in April 2009, so- from one wet tonne you would earn additional export tariff of 3p. biogas for small installations called large Centralised Anaerobic £27 from the food, £54 from maize You will also be able to opt out of up to 200kW thermal. Digester (CAD) plants have silage and £6 from the slurry. of the export tariff and sell the Q Can I get more advice? prospered and now present a good There’s also the value of the heat electricity on the open market. A The REA has leading industry commercial proposition. produced to take into account. The generation tariff will be paid experts in the field who can help These plants typically accept Plus, the option to clean biogas to whether or not the electricity members with enquiries. AD 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes of food methane and use it in vehicles or produced is used on-site or operators and companies or farmers waste – for which they attract a inject it into the grid, where more of exported to the local network. thinking of joining the UK Biogas ‘gate fee’ – and sometimes a small the biogas energy can be used. Because you are producing some of Group are welcome to come along percentage of animal slurries. Q What are feed-in tariffs your own power, you will also buy to see what goes on. (FITs)? With around 1MW electrical less electricity and so you will pay CONTACT capacity, these plants typically cost A These were announced last less for it. David Collins [email protected]

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J3381 Gridlinepg 10-13.indd 4 16/03/2010 10:54 investment

meeting the energy challenge significant investment is underway to reinforce networks and to connect new generation sources

Wormington to Sapperton gaS 36 roads, 15 watercourses and two railways, pipeline project as well as six long-distance footpaths. Special measures will be taken to conserve the ›› When: March-Oct 2010 habitat at four Key Wildlife Sites (KWS) of ›› Why: A new pipeline is being constructed county importance. National Grid will work in Gloucestershire to help meet growing closely with the Cotswolds Conservation demand for gas in south-west England. Board to safeguard and, where possible, ›› What: The 900mm-diameter (36-inch) enhance the character of the landscape. pipeline will run for 44km between National ›› lie of the land: “Directional drilling Grid’s Wormington compressor station, near will be used on a section of 900 metres where Broadway, to the above-ground installation the pipeline transfers from the low-lying at Sapperton, near Cirencester. Vale of Evesham at Hailes Bank on to the Most of the pipeline route passes through Cotswold escarpment, and at three road and agricultural land within the Cotswolds Area river crossings,” said Ian Sarson, National of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It will cross Grid’s senior project manager.

Hole HouSe reinforcement pipeline project ›› When: Spring-autumn 2011 ›› Why: A new 900mm-diameter, high- pressure gas pipeline is planned at Hole House Farm, near Middlewich, Cheshire. The pipeline is part of an expansion of gas storage facilities in former brine cavities to provide additional energy security in the face be extracted much more quickly than from of declining gas production in the North Sea. depleted oil or gas fields, and so is suited ›› What: The 3.25km-long pipeline will to meeting short-term spikes in demand in supplement the smaller diameter pipeline, times of cold weather,” said Peter Johnson, SPECIAL MEASURES: Around 60 dry stone walls which already serves EDF’s 10 existing National Grid’s project manager. will be removed during the Wormington project gas storage cavities and will enable a ›› lie of the land: The pipeline will and reinstated by specialist dry-stone walling greater volume of gas to be exported to the be constructed entirely through private contractors. To help with their understanding of the techniques, members of the project team transmission system. agricultural land owned by five National attended a two-day course run by the Cotswolds “Gas stored in former brine cavities can Grid grantors. Conservation Board

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J3381 Gridlinepg 14-15.indd 1 16/03/2010 09:50 Gas Turbine power station being built by Powerfuel at Hatfield, near Doncaster. In its planned second phase, it will become one of the world’s largest ‘clean coal’ power stations, with Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) technology to capture harmful carbon emissions when burning coal. ›› What: The main focus of the work is on a 18.2km section of the route, with a total of 55 towers. Conductors and all fittings are being replaced, steelwork will be strengthened and some tower foundations refurbished. “The project involves quite complex access considerations where five towers are located in a residential estate in Hazel Macclesfield to Grove village,” said Paul Devenish, project stocksbridge overhead manager Electricity Alliance West. line refurbishMent “The route also crosses the Macclesfield ›› When: April-December 2010 Canal at three points, as well as eight A/B ›› Why: A full refurbishment is underway roads, four 11kV pole lines and a mainline on a single circuit of the 400kV overhead railway to Manchester.” line between Macclesfield and Stocksbridge ›› lie of the land: Mitigation measures in Cheshire. Completion of the work will will be used at sites where surveys indicate significantly reduce the amount of ongoing the presence of crayfish, great crested maintenance required on the line. newts, bats, water voles and nesting birds. Load capacity on the line is also being One span oversails a former brickworks in uprated to accommodate planned new Poynton, which is now a six-hectare Local generation from a 900MW Combined Cycle Nature Reserve.

MedWay tunnel cable Clem Jillings, project engineer Electricity uprating scheMe Alliance East. “The power supply is also ›› When: September 2009-October 2010 being replaced with new 11kV cables to ›› Why: The load capacity of a 400kV National Grid’s 400kV substation at the Isle cable running under the River Medway is of Grain power station, a mile away.” being upgraded as part of a wider project The cable tunnel is a gateway into Central to reinforce the electricity network in London for two new generation sources the Thames Estuary. The project will also on the Isle of Grain coming on stream in facilitate the management of power outages early 2011– the 1200MW capacity BritNed needed for other works in the scheme. Interconnector subsea cable with the ›› What: The cable runs in a 1,700-metre Netherlands and a new 1290MW Combined tunnel under the River Medway between Heat and Power unit. It will also connect the Horseshoe Point (on the Isle of Grain) forthcoming 664MW London Array and and Chetney Marshes in Kent. “In order 300MW Thanet offshore wind farms. to achieve the circuit uprating, we are ›› lie of the land: A number of measures upgrading the cable ventilation with a more are being taken to protect wildlife in the efficient fan cooling system and replacing the Chetney Marshes Site of Special Scientific existing 400kV cable cooling oil tanks,” said Interest at one end of the tunnel.

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J3381 Gridlinepg 14-15.indd 2 16/03/2010 09:51 safety

CaTChiNG The safeTy habiT Think safe, act safe, be safe – that’s the message behind National Grid’s advice about fishing near overhead power lines

he safety of National Grid grantors “I first met Clive in autumn 2009 when Overhead pOwer lines and other land users is one of the I visited the Lagoons Fishery as part of an l Overhead power lines are often Company’s highest priorities. initiative to offer safety advice and guidance to difficult to see, particularly at night So when grantor Clive Kenyon of the angling clubs and water sports venues in the or against a dark or very bright T background. Deeside Conservation Trust enquired about the area that have high voltage power lines crossing availability of smaller electricity warning signs them,” said James. l They are normally bare (not for use at lakeside pegs (cast-off points), James Working with Geoff Parkinson, overhead insulated) and distribution lines can Dean, lands officer north-west and Scotland, line delivery engineer, James was able to source be mistaken for telephone wires. wasted no time in tracking some down. some suitably sized signage and they were l At higher voltages, electricity may subsequently installed on posts at all the pegs. arc (or jump) across a gap meaning “It’s all too easy to become so familiar with that it is not necessary to touch an your surroundings that structures like power overhead electric power line to suffer lines become almost invisible in the landscape,” an electric shock. said Clive. “So these signs are a real wake-up call to remain vigilant at all times.” He obtained a 50-year lease at the site back in 1996 from the Welsh Assembly. The lakes extend for about a mile in a corridor that were originally created to form a natural drains surface water into the nearby River floodplain when the Deeside Industrial Estate Dee. The two overhead power lines (Carrington was developed. “I think the Assembly was only to Connah’s Quay and Capenhurst to Connah’s too pleased that I wanted to develop the area as Quay) run in parallel down the centre of a recreational resource, while also maintaining the corridor. it as a wildlife refuge,” Clive said. The pegs at the fishing lakes are all positioned “Maintaining a healthy environment for fish at a safe distance from the overhead power requires good quality water, which also benefits lines and, in most cases, the cast-off points face wildlife. The lakes are home to a variety of the conductors so there is a clear line of vision. KeePiNG iN CONTaCT: James Dean has worked ducks, herons, kingfishers and cormorants.” Rod length is limited to a maximum of 13 feet, with Clive Kenyon to enhance safety at the site The four lakes, which occupy some 50 acres, while braided lines, which can hold water and

16 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg16-17.indd 1 16/03/2010 15:12 Fishing rods and poles l Fishing rods and poles made from carbon fibre and similar materials will conduct electricity, and many other materials conduct electricity when they are wet. l Carbon fibre poles can reach lengths in excess of 17 metres. They are designed to be shipped out parallel to the water and should never be raised in the vertical position.

at the peg l Always unpack, set up and put away rods or poles at the water’s edge. l Do not fish within 30 metres of overhead power lines that cross or run parallel to the water, unless a thorough risk assessment justifies a deviation from the rule. l Higher voltage lines normally have yellow ‘Danger of Death’ warning notices, but lower voltage lines may not. l Remember, look up and look behind you.

conduct electricity, are restricted to three feet. where to fish and where not to fish. “All new members receive a safety Deeside Conservation Trust has recently Find out more induction when they join, there are warning updated its site risk assessment, looking in A guide entitled Angler Safety is signs at strategic locations, and rule detail at potential hazards associated with the available from the Energy Networks infringements carry the punishment of a power lines, the probability of an incident Association (ENA). Download it at three-month ban and a £50 fine,” said Clive. and the likely consequences. The assessment www.energynetworks.org or call the Grantors who own, lease or make waters also details the control measures taken to ENA on 020 7706 5100. available for fishing where power lines are eliminate or reduce the risk to a minimum. Grantors who own or operate fisheries present have a legal responsibility to ensure “I was impressed by how quickly James can obtain danger notices from their local anglers are made aware of the dangers by responded to our requests for the signage lands officer team (see page 2 for contact erecting suitable signage and, where possible, and by the level of support and advice we’ve details for each region), but are asked to issuing written or verbal instructions about received,” said Clive. erect the signs themselves.

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J3381 Gridlinepg16-17.indd 2 16/03/2010 15:12 FEATURE

LOOK AND LEARN: (above) A group of visitors learn about farming and nature conservation at a LEAF demonstration farm TECHNOLOGY IN TUNE: (above) Integrated Farm (right) Caroline Drummond Management marries the needs of successful (second right) A trailer ride commercial farming practice with nurturing the during Open Farm Sunday environment for habitat and wildlife Farming with nature For nearly two decades LEAF has led the way for British farming, demonstrating how successful commercial land management can go hand in hand with caring for the environment

pen Farm Sunday – British thriving countryside that is good for wildlife, farming’s annual open day – was National Grid is a supports viable farming businesses, and produces once again a huge success last year, corporate member of wholesome and affordable food. A commitment Owith 425 farms all over the country LEAF and a principal to animal welfare and good husbandry, efficient welcoming an estimated 140,000 people into sponsor of Open Farm soil management, the use of crop rotation and a the countryside to learn more about the story of Sunday. “We very much minimal reliance on fertilisers are all important food, farming and nature. share the organisation’s elements of this approach.” The organisation behind the event is Linking passion for protecting and, wherever To showcase IFM there is a network of 45 Environment And Farming (LEAF), a national possible, enhancing the natural LEAF Demonstration Farms that welcome charity based in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. environment,” said Hector Pearson, visits from a broad range of individuals and LEAF was founded in 1991 as a result of a land and development stakeholder organisations interested in farming and food common concern for the future of farming by and policy manager. production. Over the coming months, LEAF is a group including farmers, environmentalists, looking to refresh and expand the concept. consumers and government. At that time, Becoming a member of LEAF provides an increasing gap appeared to be opening up as being environmentally responsible. farmers with numerous benefits. The LEAF between farmers and the public. “Our work is all about encouraging sustainable audit tool, for example, helps to prioritise The organisation’s philosophy is Integrated farming,” explained Caroline Drummond, chief decisions, identify and implement improvement Farm Management (IFM) – a whole farm executive of LEAF, who was awarded an MBE plans and demonstrate environmental approach advocating efficient and profitable for services to agriculture last year. responsibility to others. LEAF’s approach can production, which is economically viable as well “It’s in everyone’s interest that we have a save farmers time and money, and help them to

18 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg 18-19.indd 1 16/03/2010 10:30 Open Farm Sunday 13 June 2010 Ten regional coordinators are in place to organise workshops to help make this year’s promotion an even bigger and better event. LEAF provides a free organiser’s pack, which includes publicity material, health and safety guidance and suggested activities. To find your nearest farm, or to attend a workshop and get involved, visit www.farmsunday.org or call 02476 413 911.

benchmark against other LEAF farmers. Meanwhile, the LEAF Marque accreditation scheme demonstrates to customers of Waitrose, and an increasing number of other retailers, that they are purchasing nutritious, affordable food, grown with care for the environment. Another recent initiative is ‘Let nature feed your senses’, where LEAF is working with the Sensory Trust to help disengaged groups develop a lifelong love of nature through visits to farms, nature reserves and city farms. Going the extra green mile “Going forward we have ambitious plans to build on our industry partnerships to take IFM As you would expect from a former arable enterprises are totally integrated forward, seeking new ways to get the farming LEAF chairman (and National Grid – cereal and grain provide feed and message out to consumers and to showcase grantor) Robert Campbell is an straw for the animals, which provide the benefits of sustainable farming to the enthusiastic advocate of the integrated soil-enriching manure for the crops. countryside, economy and society as a whole,” approach to land management. “All farmers on a daily basis are said Caroline. Winter wheat and winter barley are juggling a number of balls in the air, The government’s ‘Food 2030’ strategy calls for the main crops on his 1,270-acre LEAF balancing the needs of the environment, a joined-up food approach in which consumers Demonstration Farm in Stokesley, just as well as feeding people, the needs can access sustainably produced food, grown outside Middlesbrough. of livestock, the needs of the local by farmers who are actively reducing their “Crop rotation is used to maintain community and the regulator,” greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste and soil health,” said Robert. “We manage explained Robert. using less energy. the land using minimum tillage. Only “Financial assistance from “We are ideally placed to help farmers to shallow excavations are made to ‘shake’ environmental schemes goes some way meet the challenge of producing more but also up the soil when seeding crops and to help with the costs of farming for having less impact on precious resources, while the method also has proven carbon habitat, but farmers do it mainly because at the same time engaging the local community,” retention benefits.” we place a high value on the countryside added Caroline. On this mixed farm, the livestock and and wildlife.”

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J3381 Gridlinepg 18-19.indd 2 17/03/2010 11:15 To contact Gridline: ✆ 01926 656 325  [email protected] LAST WORD 23-25 Waterloo Place, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5LA.

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Q What is the size of the LCD screen on this WIN a Virgin Balloon Flight! camera? Enter this competition to win an airborne adventure and see the Send your answer to Gridline world from a totally new perspective Cyber-shot competition, 23-25 Waterloo Place, Gridline has teamed up with 100 launch sites across the UK. Warwick St, Leamington Spa, Virgin Balloon Flights to  e theme for the next photo Warwickshire CV32 5LA. o’ er the winner of this issue’s competition is ‘weather’. Please note you must be a photography competition a Send in your photo to National Grid grantor to enter fantastic champagne balloon Gridline Photo Competition, this competition. ” ight for two people. 23-25 Waterloo Place,  e entry closing date is  is great prize includes a Warwick St, Leamington Spa, 14 May 2010. three- to four-hour experience, Warwickshire CV32 5LA. Or with about an hour in the air, a email your photo to gridline@ champagne toast on landing, a uk.ngrid.com. Closing date is certi• cate signed by Sir Richard 14 May 2010. Only grantors are WIN Branson and a souvenir eligible to enter and regretably A SONY DIGITAL brochure. Choose from over prints cannot be returned. CAMERA SKY-HIGH TRIPS FROM JUST £99 Fly from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland or Wales for just £99 per person with Weekday Morning tickets (RRP £119). Or, fl y weekends with Weekday Anytime tickets (RRP £134) for just £119pp. But be quick, this fantastic offer ends on 14 May 2010. Simply call 01952 212 750 or visit www.virginballoonfl ights. co.uk and quote Gridline. Terms & conditions Competition prize refers to a pair of Virgin Balloon Flights seven day anytime tickets, which have no cash value, are non-refundable and non- transferable. Winners must contact Virgin Balloon Flights within three months of being notifi ed to claim their prize. Reader offer is valid until 14 May 2010. Passengers must be over 7 years of age and at least 4’6” in height. Children aged under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Virgin Balloon Flights is unable to fl y passengers who are pregnant or who have recently undergone major surgery. Full terms and conditions are available at www.virginballoonfl ights.co.uk.

20 | Gridline

J3381 Gridlinepg20.indd 1 16/03/2010 10:47