Electricity Generation, Transmission & Distribution
The region offers:
- A strong infrastructure of 13 conventional generation power stations
- 135 substations in the region
- At least 66 transmission routes with 305 lines transporting electricity to the region’s homes and businesses
- A labour force skilled in all aspects of electricity transmission and distribution
In the East of England, energy is generated at a number of power plants ranging from conventional fossil fuel burning and nuclear to landfill and biomass power plants, and technologies such as wind and hydro-power.
UK Power Networks is the electricity distributor within the East of England. It has a network covering an area of 20,300sq km containing 92,120km of overhead line and underground cables. Distributors own and operate the network of towers and cables that bring electricity from the National Transmission Network to homes and businesses via the suppliers.
National Grid owns and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission system in England and Wales, together with operating the system across Great Britain, balancing supply with demand on a minute-by-minute basis and connecting power stations and major substations across the country.
The National Grid is controlled from a centre in Sindlesham, Wokingham. The network includes;
- 181 large power stations
- 11,500 km of grid transferring 400kV of electricity
- 9,800 km of grid transferring 275kV of electricity
- 5,250 km of grid transferring 132kV of electricity
