The UK government has decided not to pursue underground cabling as part of its National Grid upgrade, opting instead for a quicker and cheaper solution involving hundreds of pylons across the countryside. According to Chris Stark, the clean energy adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, burying cables underground would be both too costly and time-consuming.

At a Green Alliance event, Stark explained that the government's analysis indicated little additional benefit to underground cabling and that it could delay decarbonisation efforts. The project is part of the UK's commitment to reaching net-zero emissions and includes installing over 420 pylons, some reaching 50 meters in height, across various regions like Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Derbyshire.

Stark, formerly head of the Climate Change Committee, also shared that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero plans a public information campaign to reassure communities affected by the new infrastructure. The goal remains to decarbonise the grid by 2035, though Prime Minister Starmer is pushing for an earlier target of 2030.

Campaigns by local residents and environmental groups continue to advocate for alternative approaches, including underground cables, to minimize disruption to landscapes and wildlife.

Source: theguardian.com