Matt Baker Joins National Grid Engineers to Upgrade Aberthaw Pylons in New More4 Series

Matt Baker Joins National Grid Engineers to Upgrade Aberthaw Pylons in New More4 Series

(IN BRIEF) In the final episode of Matt Baker’s British Isles airing on 24 June, Matt Baker experiences the work of South Wales overhead line engineers as they upgrade transmission pylons near Aberthaw substation. After safety training and a practice climb at National Grid’s Eakring centre, he climbs a live pylon under mentor Gareth Davies to watch the team replace ceramic insulators with advanced polymeric versions. Matt also learns substation safety procedures from engineer Lee Griffiths. The upgrade forms part of a 30 km line renewal toward Cilfynydd substation, contributing to National Grid’s £35 billion investment plan (2026–2031) to bolster transmission capacity for emerging data centres, gigafactories and renewable generation. National Grid is encouraging new talent to join its overhead-lines workforce via its talent community.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 24-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A crew of overhead electricity line engineers from South Wales will feature in the upcoming More4 series Matt Baker’s British Isles. In the finale—airing Tuesday, 24 June—Countryfile host Matt Baker travels to the South Wales coast to join National Grid specialists undertaking critical upgrades to transmission pylons around Aberthaw substation.

Before scaling live equipment, Matt completed comprehensive safety training and a practice climb on a de-energised pylon at National Grid’s Eakring training centre in Nottinghamshire. Under the guidance of OHL team engineer Gareth Davies, he then ascended to heights of up to 45 metres, observing the replacement of bulky ceramic insulators with sleeker, lighter polymeric alternatives against the backdrop of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.

Alongside Gareth’s mentorship, Matt met OHL project engineer Lee Griffiths inside Aberthaw substation to learn about isolation procedures and line switching protocols essential for safe maintenance. Although the presenter only witnessed one phase of the insulator swap, the full upgrade extends some 30 km northward to Cilfynydd substation in Caerphilly—part of a broader effort to future-proof the regional network.

National Grid plans to invest £35 billion in its Wales and England transmission infrastructure from 2026 to 2031, targeting connections for data centres, gigafactories and renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Those intrigued by overhead-line roles can join National Grid’s talent community to explore career opportunities in this high-voltage field.

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SOURCE: National Grid