Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have officially opened a £1 billion “energy superhighway” carrying high voltage power cables beneath the streets of central London.
The seven-year project to “rewire” the capital was undertaken by National Grid to keep up with growing demand and allow ageing infrastructure to be retired.
Boring machines were used to cut a 32-kilometre network of tunnels from Hackney to Willesden and Kensal Green to Wimbledon, through which 200 kilometres of 400kV cables were laid to transmit power around the city.
National Grid says running the cables through tunnels reduces disruption during construction, maintenance and repairs, and will allow further capacity to be added more easily in future. The tunnels are also being used by the local distribution network operator UK Power Networks.
The 10 new circuits will initially meet around a fifth of electricity demand in London, although they have enough capacity (4GW) to supply the entire city on a cold winter day. The load is expected to increase over time as old assets built in the 1950s are gradually decommissioned.
National Grid says the London Power Tunnels project constitutes the “most significant” upgrade to London’s electricity system since the 1960s and has been delivered on time and under budget. It was opened today (7 February) by Charles and Camilla on a visit to the new Highbury substation in Islington.
National Grid chief executive John Pettigrew, said: “We are delighted to have been able to show the Prince of Wales how this £1 billion project has enabled us to rewire London to make sure the capital and those living in it have the electricity they need to rise to the challenges of the 21st century.”
Business and energy secretary Greg Clark, said: “The £1 billion London Power Tunnels is exactly the type of investment and innovative infrastructure project that the government wants to encourage through our modern industrial strategy.
“This important infrastructure will help increase productivity by cutting the number of road works needed for maintenance, as well as powering London with the safe and reliable electricity supplies it needs for the future.”