Laying underground electricity cables could be faster, greener and be less disruptive to people thanks to an ambitious new project.
Led by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), Southampton City Council and the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), ‘Grounds for Change’ will look at new, environmentally friendly ways to install cables and cause less disruption whilst doing it.
Whilst electricity demand grows from heat pumps and vehicle chargers, the electricity sector continues to use open-trench methods to lay cables that dig up roads and pavements. In residential areas this can cause traffic disruption and (in some cases) damage people’s gardens and driveways.
The project will explore methods such as directional drilling, precise slot cutting and reusing materials on site, with the aim of:
- Reducing disruption for road users and pedestrians
- Reducing waste vehicle trips
- Reducing the overall environmental footprint of cable installation.
The project follows the release of two Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) challenges to innovators in 2025 by SSEN via the EIC, enabling access to a wide pool of small and medium-sized enterprises. The Attachment Company, Electric Powered Innovation, Synthotech and SoilDri were selected from several proposals for their unique solutions. Their approaches include horizontal drilling, trenchless technology and reusing excavated spoil as trench backfill, avoiding imported aggregates.
Frank Clifton, Innovation Manager at SSEN said: “Coming up with ways of doing things differently – and doing them better – will become ever more important as we increasingly deliver innovations in our everyday work. SSEN is excited to partner with the EIC in this project, and eager to see the fresh ideas they bring along with the new innovators.”
Edward Jones, Innovation Portfolio Manager at the EIC, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in Grounds for Change and to support small innovators to test these exciting new technologies with SSEN.
“As we drive towards net zero, it’s vital we review existing practices for efficiencies; the companies selected will help us do exactly that.”
