What is it?
The North Wales Wind Farms Connection is a 132 kilovolt (kV) electricity connection designed to take power from new onshore wind farms in North Wales (focused around Strategic Search Area A) into the local distribution network via SP Manweb’s existing substation at St Asaph (Denbighshire).
On this page
Core infrastructure
- Voltage level: 132 kV (distribution).
- Main route: an overhead distribution connection running between the Clocaenog/Clocaenog Forest area and St Asaph.
- Overhead line length (reported by ScottishPower in 2018): ~17 km.
- End connection works: the Secretary of State’s 2016 decision letter describes modifications at St Asaph substation and installation of a 2.6 km underground cable from the overhead line terminal to St Asaph.
- Collector substation: a new “collector” substation near Clocaenog Forest (planning permission referenced as granted 1 June 2016).
Ownership and key parties
- Promoter / undertaker: SP Manweb plc (part of ScottishPower / SP Energy Networks).
- Consenting regime: treated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act framework (via Development Consent Order).
Consents and timeline (high-level)
- Development Consent Order made: 28 July 2016; came into force 19 August 2016.
- Examining Authority recommendation report date: 5 September 2016 (Planning Inspectorate documentation).
- Construction reference point: ScottishPower described it as one of SPEN’s largest construction projects of 2018.
- Reported status: Gillespies (project support consultant) states the overhead line is complete and DCO requirements have been discharged.
Why St Asaph (network rationale)
In the options appraisal captured in the Examining Authority report, the St Asaph 132 kV connection option was considered attractive partly because of its relative network positioning and reduced need for wider reinforcement compared with some alternatives.
Environmental and community considerations (examples)
Project communications have highlighted ecological mitigation work in the Clocaenog area (for example, protected-species measures described by ScottishPower).
Business relevance
- Enables new renewable generation to connect into the North Wales distribution network, supporting capacity for decarbonisation and local economic activity associated with wind farm development and grid works.
- The scheme also illustrates how onshore renewables often require new 132 kV infrastructure (overhead line + substation upgrades) to move generation from rural sites into established grid nodes such as St Asaph.