Yorkshire, a region synonymous with rolling hills, historic cities, and now, a cutting-edge energy infrastructure project, is the focus of significant development. But Where Is Yorkshire exactly, and how does this location play a crucial role in the UK’s clean energy future? The Yorkshire GREEN project is a major undertaking to upgrade and reinforce the high-voltage electricity network within this region, designed to facilitate the efficient transfer of clean energy throughout the country.
This ambitious project is set to channel cleaner energy into homes and businesses not just in Yorkshire, but across the UK. Yorkshire GREEN represents a vital new connection and reinforcement of the national electricity transmission system, directly supporting the UK Government’s ambitious net-zero targets. It is a cornerstone of The Great Grid Upgrade, the most extensive overhaul of the electricity transmission network in England and Wales in generations. This upgrade is essential for ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply for the future.
Understanding the Yorkshire GREEN Project Benefits in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire GREEN project brings a multitude of benefits, strengthening both the national energy infrastructure and the local Yorkshire environment.
-
Enhancing Electricity Grid Resilience and Security in Yorkshire: The installation of new and reinforced electricity infrastructure is paramount to increasing the resilience of the electricity transmission network. This proactive approach ensures the grid can handle both present and anticipated future surges in energy demand, effectively future-proofing the power supply across Yorkshire and the wider UK.
-
Supporting Green Technology Across Yorkshire and Beyond: Yorkshire GREEN is instrumental in upgrading the electricity transmission network to efficiently distribute renewable energy generated within the UK to communities nationwide. By strengthening the grid in Yorkshire, a key geographical area, the project ensures smoother integration and delivery of green energy sources.
-
Enhancing the Natural Environment in Yorkshire: Beyond infrastructure upgrades, Yorkshire GREEN is committed to environmental stewardship. The project aims to boost the biodiversity level across the project site area by a minimum of 10%. This commitment includes woodland restoration and enhancement, new planting initiatives, and the improvement of vital wildlife habitats, leaving the Yorkshire landscape in a demonstrably better ecological condition.
Key Components of the Yorkshire GREEN Infrastructure Across Yorkshire
The Yorkshire GREEN project in Yorkshire encompasses several key infrastructural developments:
Construction and Maintenance of Substations Across Yorkshire:
The project involves the construction of two major new electricity substations strategically located within Yorkshire. These are situated at Overton and Monk Fryston, both key geographical points within the region.
Overton Substation Location in Yorkshire:
The new Overton Substation is being constructed just off Overton Road, to the northwest of the historic city of York, placing it in North Yorkshire. This substation, covering approximately 60,000m2 (6 hectares), will feature six gantries for supporting essential equipment and cabling. While three new pylons will be erected nearby, they are situated outside the substation’s immediate boundary. Underground cabling within the Overton Substation will connect circuits from overhead lines. Crucially, the substation will house four Super Grid Transformers (SGTs) to convert the high voltage of the overhead lines (400kV) for connection into the substation at a voltage of 275kV.
Monk Fryston Substation Location in Yorkshire:
The Monk Fryston Substation is being built adjacent to the existing Monk Fryston Substation in North Yorkshire. This expansion is critical to accommodate the increased energy flow from the upgraded overhead lines, which the current substation alone cannot handle. Accessible from Rawfield Lane, the new substation is positioned near the villages of Monk Fryston, Lumby, and Fairburn, nestled between the cities of Leeds and Selby. The new Monk Fryston Substation will cover an area of approximately 80,000m2 (8 hectares), bringing the combined footprint of both substations at this location to 147,000m2 (14.7 hectares). Designed to be no more than 15m in height, the new substation will also incorporate four Super Grid Transformers (SGTs) for voltage conversion and around 600m of underground cables for connecting overhead line circuits, all within the new substation boundary.
Minor Upgrades at Osbaldwick Substation in Yorkshire:
In addition to the two new substations, minor but essential upgrades are planned for the existing Osbaldwick Substation, located to the east of York in North Yorkshire. These works include the installation of a new circuit breaker, a safety mechanism to halt electrical current flow, and an isolator, used to disconnect circuits or equipment from power sources for safety during maintenance. All new infrastructure at Osbaldwick will be contained within the substation’s current boundaries. For more detailed information about substations, further reading is available here.
New and Upgraded Overhead Lines Across Yorkshire:
The Yorkshire GREEN project necessitates the construction of new overhead lines to link to the new substations and the upgrade of existing overhead line sections between Shipton and Monk Fryston. Upgrading these lines allows them to operate at a higher voltage, significantly increasing their electricity carrying capacity. This phase of work includes reconductoring and strengthening 28km of existing overhead lines, installing 10km of new overhead lines, laying 1km of new underground cables, and erecting 33 new pylons across the Yorkshire landscape.
Cable Sealing End Compounds in Yorkshire:
Cable sealing end compounds are crucial connection points where underground cables meet overhead lines. Two new connection points will be constructed at Tadcaster Tee and Shipton Tee in Yorkshire, facilitating the transition between underground and overhead electricity transmission.
Where Exactly is Yorkshire GREEN Located? Project Area in Detail
Where is Yorkshire GREEN geographically situated? As the name suggests, Yorkshire GREEN is located within Yorkshire, a large and diverse region in the north of England. Specifically, the project area extends from Shipton, situated to the north of York, southward to Monk Fryston, which lies between the major cities of Leeds and Selby. This corridor traverses North Yorkshire and also borders the eastern edge of West Yorkshire, near Leeds. Works are also planned at the Osbaldwick substation, east of York. Therefore, Yorkshire GREEN is strategically positioned within North and West Yorkshire, leveraging the geographical advantages of this region for national energy distribution.
To visualize the project’s route and understand its geographical context within Yorkshire, refer to the map below. For a more detailed, interactive exploration of the project and specific works planned near you, an interactive map is available.
View larger image
Preparatory work for Yorkshire GREEN commenced in autumn 2024, and the entire construction phase is projected to be completed by 2028. The timeline below provides a detailed overview of the anticipated construction program.
View larger image
In conclusion, Yorkshire GREEN is a strategically vital project located in the heart of Yorkshire. It is set to significantly enhance the UK’s clean energy infrastructure, ensuring a more resilient, secure, and sustainable energy future while contributing positively to the biodiversity of the Yorkshire region. To delve deeper into the Great Grid Upgrade and related national infrastructure projects, further information is readily available on the National Grid website.
