LionLink is a new subsea electricity cable – known as an interconnector – proposed to connect to a Dutch offshore windfarm and connect the UK and Dutch electricity grids.
The project is being developed by National Grid Ventures (NGV), part of National Grid, in partnership with TenneT, the Dutch transmission system operator.
It will play an important role in reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, supplying around 1.8 gigawatts of clean electricity – enough to power approximately 2.5 million British homes.
A statutory public consultation will be held on LionLink in 2025 – following previous consultations in 2022 and 2023, which narrowed down locations for the cable route. This included potential landfall sites at Southwold and Walberswick, in Suffolk, and a converter station in Saxmundham.
Erinn Sapsford is an operational project manager working on the construction of NGV’s interconnector projects.
The latest interconnector to be completed was Viking Link, which stretches 475 miles between the UK and Denmark.
Erinn managed the construction of the converter station, which houses the technology to enable clean electricity to be transmitted through the subsea and underground power cable.
Having studied mechanical engineering at Northumbria University, Erinn secured a one-year placement at National Grid between her second and third years.
She was then fast-tracked on to National Grid’s graduate scheme in 2014, starting out as a mechanical engineer in gas distribution.
Erinn said: “I wanted to work for a large company – and I very quickly saw that I could do a huge variety of different jobs at National Grid, which appealed to me.
“I started in gas, then worked on an electricity transmission project at the age of 20, and now I’m at NGV working on electrical interconnectors,” she added. “Each role has almost felt like joining a new company.”
An interconnector includes both onshore and offshore elements, with construction of the onshore components typically taking around four years.
National Grid works closely with local authorities to ensure construction work is completed with minimal disruption to surrounding areas.
“We will produce a draft construction management plan agreed with Suffolk County Council and East Suffolk Council,” said Erinn. “These plans will consider key times like the bird breeding season, wintering bird season and tourism patterns to minimise construction traffic impact wherever possible.”
Extensive traffic management plans are put in place and the whole project is meticulously planned, with teams working to ensure that peak moments in the project such as the building of the converter station are managed as efficiently as possible.
“We also plan our routes to try and avoid going through small villages or unstable roads,” said Erinn.
Ahead of any work beginning on previous projects, teams have taken the time to knock on people’s doors to introduce themselves, share contact details and explain how long they will be in the area.
Using local suppliers and contractors provides value beyond the service they provide.
“There’s no substitute for working with local people who know the area,” said Erinn. “On Viking Link, a local catering firm kept us fed and watered, and a local stone quarry provided all the repurposed stone used on the base of the converter station and the haul road.”
National Grid also uses community feedback to ensure new infrastructure reflects the appearance of natural landscapes.
“For Viking Link in Lincolnshire, the converter station was painted green to blend in with the surroundings, and we’re planting trees and shrubs that match the local area,” said Erinn. “Obviously it needs time to grow, but realistically in two to three years, you wouldn’t even see us from the road.”
Once the government releases the community benefits guidance, National Grid will work closely with local authorities to ensure its community benefits programme meets the needs of local people.
“For other projects we have made regular donations to local food banks and worked with organisations such as Age UK to raise funds for a minibus which is used to drive to villages and has ambassadors on hand to help with fuel bill advice, and we also ran a community Christmas event for five years,” said Erinn.
“One of our proudest moments has been the opening of the education centre at Cambois in Northumberland, as part of the North Sea Link interconnector project,” she added. “It is a free-to-use, purpose-built facility that local schools can use to bring sustainability and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning to life.
“More than 2,000 children visited the centre in its first year and we hope it will help inspire the next generation of engineers.
“Fundamentally, we want to be a good neighbour.”
For more information, visit nationalgrid.com/national-grid-ventures
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