Hitachi Energy and Linxon Collaborate On Sustainable Power Infrastructure Project in London
Hitachi Energy and Linxon are working together to improve London Power Tunnels (LPT), a key power infrastructure project that will ensure England's capital city has a clean, reliable source of electricity.
Hitachi Energy will deliver EconiQ™ 420-kilovolt (kV) gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas-insulated lines (GIL) containing no sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) to assist National Grid in expediting its net-zero targets.
National Grid wants to get rid of all SF6 from its fleet by 2050. It is one of the largest investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities in the world. It began the LPT project in 2020, replacing ageing high-voltage electricity cables and expanding network capacity to meet rising electricity demand. The LPT will cover 32.5 kilometres through underground tunnels in South London, making it one of the city's major engineering projects since the 1960s.
Linxon is constructing the Bengeworth Road substation for National Grid to expand the LPT infrastructure. Hitachi Energy will provide 7 bays of its EconiQ 420 kV GIS to enable the transmission of power over long distances while eliminating SF6, in addition to its EconiQ 420 kV GIL, to assist National Grid in its transition to SF6-free solutions. The EconiQ high-voltage portfolio is 100 percent as reliable as traditional SF6-based systems. The installation is scheduled to begin in 2023.
“We’re delighted that Bengeworth Road substation, at the heart of London Power Tunnels, will be SF6-free,” said Onur Aydemir, National Grid Project Director for London Power Tunnels. “This key power project will deliver a secure energy supply to the capital, and by using sustainable technology, we are minimising the environmental impact of our operations to support the transition to Net Zero.”
“Following the successful collaboration with National Grid on the world’s first replacement of SF6 in existing high-voltage equipment and award-winning project in Richborough, UK, we are proud to be supporting National Grid again in its transition to SF6-free solutions,” said Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of the High Voltage Products business at Hitachi Energy. "The EconiQ GIS is based on our groundbreaking SF6-free 420 kV circuit breaker, which shows that the technology is reliable and can be scaled up to have the lowest carbon footprint."
“Linxon is building the infrastructure to power the world with carbon-free energy. Thanks to strong collaboration with Hitachi Energy, Linxon can provide the pioneering EconiQ SF6-free solution from Hitachi Energy for the Bengeworth substation, supporting our client to meet their sustainability targets”, said Stefan Reisacher, CEO of Linxon.
EconiQ is Hitachi Energy's eco-efficient portfolio for sustainability, consisting of products, services, and solutions that have been proven to provide exceptional environmental performance. Hitachi Energy has placed sustainability at the centre of its mission and is developing a sustainable energy future for everyone.
Source: Hitachi Energy
