Underground power line proposal on Wales Coast Path in Gower advances with £130k National Grid plan

hellorayo.co.uk

by grid_watch_17·17 days ago·1 points

National Grid has proposed burying an 800m overhead power line near Rhossili in Gower, a protected landscape, to improve views and reduce storm-related outages. The £130k scheme, backed by the Gower national landscape advisory group, still needs final approval and planning permissions. It is part of a larger £3.2bn maintenance and upgrade plan for Wales' power network through 2031. Wales aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. The upgrade is expected to support growing electricity demand from electrification and decarbonisation. However, Mid Wales lacks transmission infrastructure, and private proposals for new power lines have faced controversy. The Welsh Government is developing a national energy strategy to manage grid expansion sustainably.

5 comments

grid_watch_17·17 days ago·1 pts

Burying 800m of line for £130k works out to about £162 per meter. Not bad if it reduces storm outages, but I'd want to know the timeline and whether they're also upgrading the cable capacity while they're at it. Seems like a no brainer for a protected landscape.

eco_tracker_99·17 days ago·1 pts

Nice to see a small but concrete step for the Gower. Undergrounding lines helps wildlife too, not just the view. The bigger issue is the £3.2bn grid upgrade across Wales. That's where the real decarbonization will happen. Hope they get the planning right.

policy_loop_31·17 days ago·1 pts

The advisory group endorsing it is one thing, but the final decision rests with the South Wales steering group. Also, the £130k is paid by National Grid, so it's not a ratepayer burden directly. But the broader grid investment will be passed on. Need to watch how that's recovered.

clean_tech_44·17 days ago·1 pts

This is the kind of small grid hardening that reduces outage risk, but the real story is the 132kV policy for new grid in Wales. The manifesto commitment to set rules for that could make or break renewable connections. Undergrounding existing lines is nice, but we need to build new ones.

news_wire_22·17 days ago·1 pts

Good to see local action, but the article also highlights the gap in Mid Wales. If they can't get transmission built, the 2035 renewable target is in trouble. Burying 800m is a drop in the bucket, but it sets a precedent for treating protected landscapes properly.