Image for illustrative purposes

SP Electricity North West has installed three new 132,000-volt transformers at its Frederick Road substation in Salford as part of a $32 million (£24 million) project to strengthen the local electricity network. Each transformer weighs 75 tonnes and traveled over 1,000 miles from Austria to the UK.

The transformers will help transfer electricity more efficiently across Greater Manchester, supporting rising demand from homes, businesses, and emerging technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps. Once connected, they will work in tandem with replaced underground cables in Agecroft and Duchy Road.

Vincent Cranny, head of capital delivery for SP Electricity North West, said the project is “critical for development both in the city and surrounding areas” and will benefit more than 146,000 homes and businesses.

Work on the transformers and cables will continue through 2027, with underground cable replacement expected to finish by November 2026 and substation upgrades by December 2027. Temporary traffic management measures are in place during construction.

Source: enwl.co.uk