National Grid faces growing risks to coastal assets in England and Wales from sea level rise, storms, and erosion.
This project will combine data and forecasts to assess and mitigate these risks.
Expected outputs include asset mapping, impact forecasts, and alerts, helping integrate resilience planning into the National Grid’s Geographic Information System (GIS).
The Challenge
Due to predicted sea level rises and increased coastal storms National Grid Electricity Transmission could face challenges at its sites along its English and Welsh coastline.
Current Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) show many coastal and estuary assets such as towers and their concrete footings could be at risk from damage caused by flooding and erosion.
Salt marsh expansion and changes to intertidal zones also increases the risk of salt deposits and corrosion.
Projected SMPs and coastal management strategies may result in changes to the coastal environment which could lead to some locations becoming more difficult to reach.
The cost and difficulty of replacing a failed asset or rerouting complete sections of the network is significant. Understanding the geographical area is essential for planning and prioritising which assets should be protected or changed.
The Innovator
Previsico specialises in world-leading flood forecasting and monitoring technologies, enabling businesses and organisations to prepare, act and prevent flood impacts. Having spun-out of Loughborough University in 2019, Previsico’s proprietary technology is underpinned by over two decades of research and has been citied over 5,700 times in over 220 published papers. With a special focus on surface water and fluvial floods, the service is used by a range of organisations including insurance, water, transport, construction and property companies as well as multiple public sector agencies and local authorities.
The company’s mission is to eliminate most flood impacts by providing actionable forecasts to those who need them.
Previsico are collaborating with Professor James Cooper from the University of Liverpool. James specialises in modelling storm-related hazards; his work includes forecasting the risk and damage posed to critical infrastructure by flooding and scour, and the assessment of the climate resilience of these key assets.
What’s Next?
The project will provide sensor and forecasting data to assess the risks of coastal flooding and erosion to electricity transmission assets across the UK. It will also evaluate future climate change impacts and offer cost-benefit analyses of potential mitigation strategies.
By combining flood and erosion monitoring and forecasting, the project will identify at-risk assets and guide timely interventions.
The findings will integrate with National Grid’s Geographical Information System (GIS), supporting climate resilience planning.
Key outputs include:
1. Asset-specific maps of future hazards and potential damage for GIS integration
2. Forecasts of severe impact timelines, damage costs, and mitigation cost-benefit ratios
3. Near-real-time alerts and data from sensors.
This work will enable National Grid to better prepare for sea-level rise, storm activity, and salt marsh encroachment, enabling the protection of vital infrastructure.