Greening the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’

It’s time to “Draw breath. Listen more. Deliver better.”

Our concerns about a lack of well thought through policies and joined up thinking about National Grid’s ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ have prompted the Suffolk Preservation Society to join with Norfolk and Essex branches of the CPRE to commission a report titled ‘Greening the Great Grid Upgrade’.

National Grid’s plans for huge new onshore transmission projects are at the heart of its ‘Great Grid Upgrade’, a programme to create a decarbonised transmission system from the new – mainly offshore or coastal – energy generation sources to businesses and households across the country.

We are sharing Greening the Great Grid Upgrade with MPs, Parliamentary candidates, local councils and campaigning groups to help put pressure on both National Grid and the Government to improve the principles for the future rollout of the Great Grid Upgrade.

Greening the Great Grid Upgrade makes 7 key recommendations, but in essence there are three core asks of both National Grid and the Government which are endorsed by the three environmental charities:

• Draw breath.  Work on the Norwich to Tilbury scheme needs to be halted to properly investigate the various offshore and underground solutions proposed by expert bodies and campaign groups, especially in light of evidence that the costs associated with such schemes has been over-estimated by National Grid. There are also serious questions that need addressing by National Grid regarding its overestimation of the urgency of the proposed connection.

• Listen more. It is vital that National Grid adheres to Government commitments for earlier and more meaningful consultation, including the use of local design panels and community forums. There needs to be a fair, transparent and flexible community benefits policy that prioritises sustainability goals (including energy transition) and community and environmental betterment. Any community benefit funds need to be properly resourced and run, using experienced independent facilitators.

• Deliver better. Greater ambition and focus are required, especially in securing increased offshore co-ordination, if the volume of transmission infrastructure, including pylons is to be reduced. There must be a greater focus on delivering a new ‘Great Green Grid’ via the new Electricity Transmission Design Principles where more innovative technology could protect and enhance landscapes, amenity, biodiversity and heritage whilst helping rural communities achieve their low carbon goals.

“This is an evidenced and thoughtful report that, far from trying to undermine the UK achieving a decarbonised and secure energy system, seeks to ensure that such a programme has the greatest chances of success, based on best practice, strategic thinking and public support.

 Chris Dady, chair of CPRE Norfolk welcoming Dr Tickle’s detailed findings

“At the moment, National Grid seem to be in panic mode and are hurrying through their ‘consultations’ without having all the facts to hand. Quick decisions are usually bad ones with the costs racked up and paid for many times over in future years.”

David Knight, chair of CPRE Essex

“This report couldn’t be clearer for those of us who both support a decarbonised and secure electricity transmission system and wish to seize the chance for better designed infrastructure that protects our precious countryside and sustainable community involvement. Government and National Grid need to draw breath, listen more and deliver better.”

Robert Townshend, chair of Suffolk Preservation Society

---