Lincolnshire earmarked for more energy projects

The Beyond 2030 report comes amid plans for 420 pylons across rural Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire has been named as a "suitable location" to house more electricity infrastructure in the coming years.

The National Grid's Electricity System Operator (ESO) has released a £58bn strategy for moving energy across the UK over the next 15 years.

The plan, called Beyond 2023, proposes Lincolnshire as the "southern connection point" for five cables that would transport electricity throughout the country.

Lincolnshire County Council said it would not allow the county to become "a dumping ground for industrial scale developments".

The report comes as plans to install 420 pylons across parts of rural Lincolnshire were met with controversy.

The ESO predicted Britain's electricity needs were set to rise "by up to nearly 65% by 2035".

The plans would aim to connect 23GW of offshore wind power to help deliver the government's target of 50GW by 2030.

Other proposals for Lincolnshire include a hub for an onshore substation and an onshore circuit that it suggests could be placed underground.

'Tip of the iceberg'

The ESO said Lincolnshire is a "suitable location" to transfer green energy due to its position "at the heart of the country".

The report said protected marine areas and natural habitats could be avoided when connecting underground cables.

However, Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning at Lincolnshire County Council, expressed concern at the plans.

He said: “It’s clear that National Grid’s plans to run 50m pylons all down our east coast could be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to large-scale energy infrastructure projects earmarked for the county.

“Be it pylons, substations, or new cable connections bringing energy onshore from windfarms out in the North Sea, we will not allow Lincolnshire to be a dumping ground for industrial scale development that harms the intrinsic quality of our county."

Fintan Slye, executive director of ESO, said: “ESO’s Beyond 2030 network design outlines recommendations on the investment needed and how and where to coordinate the build of this new critical national infrastructure."

He added "swift, coordinated and lasting action" needed to be taken to "deliver the clean, secure, decarbonised system" set out by the government.

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