UK Power Networks successfully ran the training exercise at its overhead line training centre in Frant, near Tunbridge Wells, preparing staff to protect vital electricity infrastructure against flooding.
Employees from across the South East learned how to assemble the company’s £1million portable flood barrier. The modular barrier is designed to lock together like a giant Meccano set and features a plastic membrane to create a waterproof barrier. The system prevents water ingress at substation sites and protects critical assets from extreme weather events.
The training comes as climate change is expected to bring an increased risk of flooding, and with Flood Action Week 2025 approaching on 13 October, UK Power Networks is underlining its commitment to community resilience.
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Since 2010, the company has invested £24 million in flood defences to protect the local electricity grid, benefiting over 3.5 million customers, and plans to invest millions more in the years ahead.
Emma Christensen, emergency planning manager at UK Power Networks, said: “Flooding has a devastating impact on communities, and it’s vital we are fully prepared to protect electricity supplies when severe weather hits. Everyone knows water and electricity don’t mix! This training exercise means our teams know exactly how to deploy the flood barrier quickly and effectively, ensuring we are best equipped to keep power flowing to homes and businesses, whatever the weather brings.”
The company’s flood mitigation programme includes raising the height of electrical equipment at substations, installing flood walls, and sealing doors and pipework.
Flood Action Week, led by the Environment Agency, is an annual campaign designed to raise public awareness about flood risks and encourage proactive measures to prepare communities for extreme weather events.
To find out more about the exercise, watch this video: https://youtu.be/0bq929m-xDU
[Main image: UK Power Networks employees took part in a flood defence training exercise in East Sussex]