Policy and media

Press release

Power cable costs report

03 June 2011

In October 2010, at the request of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and at the instigation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) Chairman Sir Michael Pitt, an authoritative, independent report was commissioned into the comparative costs of installing new high voltage transmission power cables - under the ground, sub-sea or as overhead lines.

The report is intended to provide an authoritative, independent point of reference to inform the evaluation by the IPC of planning applications for new high voltage transmission connections or reinforcements.

International energy consultancy KEMA was commissioned to collect and analyse the data available. National Grid agreed to fund this study. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) was invited to provide quality assurance of the work.

In the course of the study, insufficient data was provided to KEMA to enable them to produce a report that KEMA were satisfied with or the IET could endorse. It has been agreed that further work will be required to acquire and analyse more data in order to produce the authoritative report envisaged and consistent with Sir Michael Pitt’s request for the availability of relevant, authoritative analysis of this complex technical topic.

It has now been agreed that KEMA’s work on the study has concluded. Arrangements are being put in place for further stages of the work to be taken forward. Another announcement will be made once the process and timescales for this next stage of work have been established. It is expected that a final analysis will be published later this year.