Tilbury boosted by power project completion
UK Power Networks has completed a £4 million power project in Tilbury in order to meet future demand in a growing part of Essex.
Around 28,000 local homes, communities and businesses across this part of the county will benefit from the electricity network upgrade.
UK Power Networks has installed two modern transformers to ensure reliable electricity supplies. The new transformers, which reduce voltage to deliver electricity safely to other local substations and then on to homes, have 50% more energy capacity than those that they replaced.
Richard Desborough, Project Manager at UK Power Networks, says: “This is a significant investment by UK Power Networks that will maintain reliable electricity supplies for the residents, businesses and communities we serve in and around the Thurrock area.
“This upgrade, with two new transformers now in in place, will meet a future growth in demand and keep power flowing for years to come, enabling us to cater for the expansion of the Port of Tilbury and other industrial sites locally.
“The new transformers in Tilbury will increase capacity and should increase the resilience of the electricity network – so it’s been an important project. It’s great to see the state-of-the-art equipment now energised and already working well.”
The new transformers are replacing equipment installed in the mid-1950s which was well maintained, but was nearing the end of its natural lifespan.
Each new transformer receives electricity at 132KV and lowers it to 33KV volts. Both are now up to 90 MVA, compared to 60 MVA previously.
The project forms part of a wider scheme of £600 million being invested by UK Power Networks in the electricity networks across the East of England, London and the South East this year.
