The approach applied to improve the resilience of the grid substations to flood consisted of two steps. The first step focused on the assessment of vulnerability and flooding risk. Substations impacted by a 1:100 year, 1:200 year, 1:1,000 year and 1:1,000 year+ climate change flood event were identified, taking into account the expected effects of climate change as per the high UKCP09 emission scenario. The second step deals with the identification, design and implementation of flood defence solutions for each of the critical substations. This step has been implemented through two stages. In the first stage, 11 high risk substations were identified and protected; these are substations that could experience impact during a 1:100 year flood event. The second stage focuses on the protection of further 38 medium risk substations; these are substations that could experience impact in case of a 1:200 year or 1:1,000 year flood event. The programme started in 2008 and by 2021, all of National Grid’s 49 critical (high and medium risk) substations will be flood-proofed. A further estimated 100 surface water risk sites will be protected by 2026.

Applied flood resilience solutions consist of combinations of following practices: flood barriers; portable flood defence measures; earth bunds; flood doors and gates; drainage systems and pumping stations; flood storage reservoirs; land management-based measures; and coordinated local solutions with the Environment Agency.

For larger sites with multiple at risk points, whole site protection combining the above measures is often the preferred and efficient approach in order to ensure that the entire operational area remains protected against flooding hazards. This typically involves the construction of a hard flood wall around the perimeter of the site. This was, for example, applied at Walham substation, located just outside of Gloucester in South West England, where steel piles were tucked into the ground around the 1 km perimeter of the site to form a base for the defence wall. Next, a cast concrete flood wall between 1.6 and 1.9 m high was built to protect the site from a 1:1,000 year flooding event. Five pumping stations were also installed to deal with potential seepage or any residual ingress of flood water. Another example is the Stella South substation, located near the River Tyne in Newburn, and with an operation of 132 kV. This substation has been protected through a hard flood barrier and a soft defence earth bund built with local materials in order to reduce the ecological impact of the construction. Aberthaw substation West of Cardiff in South Wales represents a third example; this 132 kV substation is now protected by a 2.4 m high piled concrete flood wall.

However, whole site protection is not always the best approach as it may reduce floodplain area for water storage and may redirect flood waters to grounds of neighbouring houses. Provided that critical equipment remains unaffected by floodwaters, the site can remain operational even if the part of the site is subject to flooding.

Recognising that flooding risks would not be mitigated immediately, National Grid purchased an initial 1.7 km of demountable barrier system and expanded this to 2.3 km following the flooding events during 2014 to 2015. This 2.3 km mobile defence equipment brings capability to protect multiple sites at the same time: one very large site; or two large sites; or three normal size sites. Currently there are seven trailers arranged as three pairs (with the seventh trailer carrying extra corners and equipment) which can operate independently with its own forklift and diesel supply for pumps. The barrier is also available for gas sites and, given enough mobilisation and installation time, could be used on any site. 12 x 3,000 litres pumps which can pump 3 tons per min are part of the barrier equipment and supplemented by a further 10 smaller pumps for use in smaller areas such as buildings etc. Typically, from arriving on an average site, it would take 8 to 12 hours to deploy the barrier depending on the complexity of the site. Barrier exercises are regularly carried out.

National Grid maintains round-the-clock vigilance monitoring weather-related risks through its control room. Its sites are registered with the Environment Agency’s flood alert system and receive the daily Flood Forecasting Centre and Natural Hazards Partnership alerts. National Grid is a participating member of the Flood Forecasting Centre and the Natural Hazards Partnership working groups, and data from the MET office and other weather forecasts are monitored for potential risks.