Green recovery

Increasing numbers of connection applications for the area to the north of Carlisle are a clear demonstration of activity in the area. Plans for more EV charging points at Todhills motorway service area on the M6 are amongst the connection applications for more low carbon technologies in the area. Our proposed 8km 11kV circuit with associated new switchgear will not only resolve network constraints to permit the connection of more low carbon technologies (LCTs), but also provide a valuable interconnection between different parts of our network to increase its resilience for existing customers in the area.

Voltage (kV)- 11kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 2.5MW

General location postcode- CA6 4HB

Our current network in the remote area around Forton is very dispersed and insufficient to accommodate significant new load in the area. The proposed 5km 11kV circuit will introduce sufficient capacity for proposed developments of low carbon technology connections including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the very busy Lancaster service station on the M6 motorway. Use of 33kV cable initially operated at 11kV will be considered to provide a more enduring solution accommodating future demand increases.

Voltage (kV)- 11kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 2.5MW

General location postcode- LA2 9DU

Growth of low carbon technologies around Birch and connection of EV motorway charging facilities at Birch motorway services are constrained by our local network already being fully utilised. The proposal to lay 2 x 4km cables into the area brings new capacity into the area to facilitate new connections including future low carbon technologies around Birch Business Park. Existing customers will also benefit from increased security of supply.

Voltage (kV)- 11kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 2.5MW

General location postcode- OL10 2

Customers’ expected adoption of low carbon technologies with the connections of electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps will significantly change the demand on our low voltage (LV) networks. Our connect and manage LV policy has shown that fitting three phase low voltage monitoring allows us to accurately measure demand arising from LCTs and optimise feeder loading. In general, this allows us to release around 20% additional circuit capacity for our customers and hence defer or avoid expensive reinforcement costs.

Pre-sense monitoring includes the smaller cross section neutral conductor which is crucial to the management of asymmetric loads such as EVs. We propose to install LV monitoring devices at 5000 of our most populous ground mounted substations, covering over 1 million customers. Visibility of these networks will enable cheaper, quicker connections and open up these lower voltages to our flexibility market.

Voltage (kV)- 240V/6.6kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- Variable

General location postcode- Across the whole Electricity North West region

As GMCA are driving towards their 2038 net zero targets they are focussing on the electrification of heat, with plans to install heat pumps into social housing estates and tower blocks. We are proposing an extensive programme of reinforcement work and service unlooping to accommodate this additional low carbon connections including benefits for vulnerable customers.

Voltage (kV)- 240V, 11kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 2MVA

General location postcode- numerous sites in Greater Manchester

Improving the public charging network through the rollout of charging hubs on major A-roads and public locations is key for increasing the adoption of electric vehicles. We propose to support this through £1m reinforcement fund for rapid release which shall be used to enhance our network in the next two years where the connection of a charging hub requires extensive reinforcement which may otherwise lead to unacceptable connection costs.

Voltage (kV)- 11kV- 6.6kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- Variable

General location postcode- across the whole Electricity North West region. 

St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, Carlisle is an ambitious proposal for 10,000 homes, new employment opportunities, community facilities and a new southern link road. We propose to use the replacement of the overhead lines that currently traverses the area with cables as an opportunity to uprate the circuit. As well as installing a higher capacity replacement circuit, we propose to install ducts for a future cable to provide the potential for even more capacity. This proposal leaves options open for a new primary substation to support St Cuthbert’s.

Voltage (kV)- 33kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 8.5MW

General location postcodes- CA1, CA2 and CA4

Plans for Godley Green “Garden Village” are well developed and supported. It is included in Greater Manchester’s 20-year spatial framework, is backed by the local MP, Jonathan Reynolds and has been awarded £10m funding from the government’ Housing infrastructure fund. It is proposed that ENWL install innovative monitoring to better understand the efficient connection of high density LCTs in the first phase of this new-build housing estate. This will provide valuable learning in preparation for Godley Green’s subsequent phases which will ultimately see over 2000 homes being built and other developments also with a greater reliance on electricity than was seen historically.

Voltage (kV)- LV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 0.5MW

General location postcode- SK14

We will undertake an extensive programme of LV service cable alterations to remove potential dangers and ensure that the electrical network is not a barrier to the uptake of LCTs necessary to meet the national net zero target. Approximately 20% of domestic premises in our region are supplied by a looped service. These typically have lower capacity than modern installations, with multiple dwellings fed from a single service cable branch off the main cable that is normally routed underneath the road or pavement in front of the properties. Looped services can lead to difficulties if one of the properties needs more power for an EV charger or a heat pump. Our planned interventions to reconfigure looped services will prepare our customers’ connections for their increased need for electricity and prevent safety issues.

Voltage (kV)- Low voltage network 

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 10kW

General location postcode- Electricity North West region 

Cumbria County Council’s Carbon Management Strategy aims for the county to become “carbon neutral” by 2037. Decarbonisation of transport plans include tourist activity which will ensure EV charging facilities at major tourist carparks and replacement of the existing aging diesel Windermere ferry with a new evironmental friendly electric ferry. To accomodate these new low carbon connections in the Windermere lakeside area, we propose local 11kV work to enhance the network capacity there before 2022 and reinforcement of our 33kV network later after 2023.

Voltage (kV)- 11kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 1MW

General location postcodes: Windermere

Manchester’s Eastlands and New Islington areas continue to be transformed with sustainability at its heart under the direction of Manchester City Council and Homes England. Urban Splash and developers McCalls, Muse and Manchester Life are working quickly there slightly in advance of other areas of the city centre. For this reason, a co-ordinated approach is required to deliver additional network capacity in these areas and the subsequent capacity required close by in Mayfield. A 6.6kV cable from the expanded Eastlands primary substation towards New Islington in the direction of Mayfield is proposed to deliver the capacity required in the short run with the strategic potential to become part of an interconnector between Eastlands and a new primary substation for the Mayfield area.

Voltage (kV)- 6.6kV

Approximate capacity required (MW)- 4MW

Postcode: M4