More than 160,000 homes and businesses across Wirral will benefit from a more resilient energy supply to support the uptake of green technology thanks to a major £21million investment in the network.
Image Credit: SP Energy Networks
SP Energy Networks has completed the full replacement of its Birkenhead grid substation to upgrade the infrastructure, which was originally installed in the 1960s.
The project, which started in 2017, saw the complete modernisation of the substation and will ensure a safe, reliable and resilient electricity supply ready for green technology - like electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Mark Sobczak, 132kV General Manager at SP Energy Networks, said: “We’re committed to achieving Wirral’s Net Zero status by 2041, and this project represents another major milestone in this journey. This project improves network resilience for 162,000 homes and businesses in the area and ensures that Wirral is at the forefront of a cleaner, greener future.”
Birkenhead has seen previous upgrades to its electricity network, including a £3 million project completed in October, to replace overhead powerlines with modern underground cables, directly benefiting homes and businesses.
These upgrades will help to facilitate the increased demand placed on the network, ensuring all customers receive a reliable, constant connection, while also supporting the transition to greener, low-carbon technologies.
Cllr Tony Jones, Chair Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee at Wirral Council, said: “This substantial investment, located in the heart of Birkenhead, marks a major step in the modernisation of our local community’s infrastructure. It will ensure that homes, families, and businesses across our region are reliably supplied with electricity, and will safeguard both our transition to newer, green technologies, and our ability to expand as a community coming into the future.”
SP Energy Networks owns and manages overhead and underground powerlines in Central and Southern Scotland as well as Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, and North Shropshire.