THE first major marine survey of its kind in 50 years is under way to assess the feasibility of taking power cables under the sea.
National Grid is carrying out research in Morecambe Bay as part of its effort to find a route to export electricity from the planned nuclear power station at Moorside, in west Cumbria.
A new way for the station, near Sellafield, to be connected to the main grid needs to be found as existing pylon lines along the coast will not be able to carry the amount of electricity Moorside will generate.
Coast Connections Project
The marine survey work, the first since 1968, will provide a detailed insight into the geological make-up of the bay and form part of the consultation for the North West Coast Connections Project.
Robert Powell, project manager, said: "Our proposal to build a tunnel across Morecambe Bay is one we are very excited about.
"We are hopeful that these surveys will give us invaluable information about the bay should plans for the tunnel go ahead.
"We will be asking for people's views on the tunnel and other elements of our project during a public consultation later this year and we encourage people to take part and let us know their views."
Marine surveys
Initial investigations were carried out last month to make sure there was no unexploded devices at any of the 23 sites National Grid is looking to explore further within the bay.
Now two drill rigs are being used to dig boreholes at these locations.
Seven boreholes will reach a depth of 100m below the sea bed, while the other 16 will need to be 60m deep.
The boreholes are needed to show National Grid where different geological layers begin and end under the surface of Morecambe Bay.
Depending on weather conditions, the survey is expected to take about another four weeks to complete.
The Coast Connections Project includes proposals to install 50m tall pylons from Moorside along the coast to Rampside and then run cables under the sea to Heysham.
Some campaigners want cables offshore across the entire route to avoid having giant plyons in the Lake District.
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