Insights Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ powers the London Tunnel Project

The Hitachi Energy fully type tested 420 kV EconiQ™ gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) will be used in building the Bengeworth Road substation. The substation under construction by Linxon will aid in developing the London Power Tunnels 2 (LPT2) infrastructure, a key power infrastructure project that will ensure a reliable, clean electricity supply for England’s capital city. Hitachi Energy will deliver EconiQ 420-kilovolt (kV) GIS and gas-insulated lines (GIL) containing no sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Together, Linxon and Hitachi Energy are supporting National Grid in accelerating its sustainability zero targets upon completing the project in 2026.

EconiQ, Hitachi Energy’s eco-efficient portfolio, is proven to deliver exceptional environmental performance. It is the ideal solution for a reliable, eco-efficient energy supply and will support National Grid’s ambition to remove all SF6 from its fleet by 2050 and achieve Linxon’s sustainability goals of building infrastructure to power the world with carbon-free energy.

“Linxon’s high-voltage substation will save 150,000 (tCO2 eq) throughout the life cycle of the substation, with the use of EconiQ. This is equivalent to taking approximately 75000 passenger cars1 off the road. Eliminating all the CO2 and decreasing carbon footprint with this ground-breaking product is a game changer in the power industry. Linxon always strives for a sustainable future by questioning traditional ways of building substations, and with EconiQ, we are doing just that,” said Rajesh Balakrishnan, Linxon UK Project Director.

In 2020 National Grid embarked on the £1 billion LPT2 project that will replace ageing high-voltage electricity cables and expand network capacity to meet the increasing electricity demand. The LPT2 project will span 32.5 km via underground tunnels in South London. Linxon has been contracted to design, supply, install, and commission connection bays at two existing National Grid substation sites. Furthermore, Linxon will undertake modification works at two additional sites and construct a new seven-bay 400/132 kV GIS substation at Bengeworth Road to reinforce power supplies to Southeast London.

This new Bengeworth Road substation will connect in the center of the LPT route from Wimbledon to Crayford. This new high-voltage substation will be critical in bringing power to homes and businesses across London, stabilizing the transmission network, and allowing additional renewable sources to connect to the grid to meet future power demand.

1. Based on the assumption that a car emits 19 kg CO2 equivalent per 100 km, drives 10,000 km per year, and an estimated leakage rate of 1 % per year for gas-insulated lines