UK Power Networks completes £4 million Tilbury power upgrade

UK Power Networks has completed a £4 million power project at Tilbury 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, who distributes electricity across the East of England, 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 on to homes, have 50% more energy capacity than those they replaced.

Richard Desborough, Project Manager at UK Power Networks, noted, “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 place will meet future growth in demand and keep the power flowing for years to come and enables 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 (megavolt amperes) 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.