Somerset gigafactory substation delayed until 2028
Power supply for $5.3 B (£4 B) Agratas factory will rely on interim grid connections until late 2028 as National Grid builds new substation.
Image for illustration purposes
UK, England, Somerset: A substation intended to power Somerset’s $5.3 B (£4 B) Agratas gigafactory will not be operational until late 2028, around a year after the first phase is due for completion.
Announced in early 2024, the gigafactory at the Gravity enterprise zone between Puriton and Woolavington is expected to create approximately 4,000 jobs. Revised plans for the site’s first major building went on display in April, alongside proposals for a new ring road and M5 junction.
National Grid says work on the substation will begin in September, but until it’s completed, the factory will operate on two temporary grid connections. The company has confirmed there will be no disruption to power in Bridgwater or nearby villages.
The substation will be built on the eastern edge of the Gravity site, near Woolavington. Preparatory infrastructure work, including road closures on Woolavington Road, begins this month and may last up to five months. Gas and telecom installations will be coordinated to reduce long-term disruption.
Councillor Richard Wilkins called the project a major investment and said efforts are underway to minimize inconvenience for residents and businesses. If plans are approved, the gigafactory’s first phase will be operational by late 2027.
National Grid says it will maintain regular communication with the community as construction progresses and aims to limit traffic and other impacts.
Source: Yahoo News
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