£3.3m upgrade at Tunbridge Wells boosts power for thousands
New power infrastructure has been energised at Tunbridge Wells Grid under a £3.3 million investment in resilience and capacity.
UK Power Networks has installed a new 97-tonne electricity transformer with one-third more capacity than its two predecessors to support future power demand, enable more low carbon technologies and maintain safe, reliable electricity supplies.
The transformer receives electricity at 132,000 volts, steps it down to 33,000 volts for distribution to smaller substations, and helps power more than 32,000 homes and businesses in the town.
Investment began last winter when the first of two existing transformers was dismantled and taken away for recycling, making room for a new transformer that arrived in the summer. Since then work has taken place to connect the new equipment to the grid.
Heavy haulage experts delivered the electricity transformer to the electricity substation, and the site team coordinated with Network Rail to safely move it across the London to Hastings railway line without any impact on train schedules.
Sam Hills, assistant project manager at UK Power Networks, said: “Our close collaboration with partners and the professionalism of our teams have ensured the smooth delivery of the upgraded transformer and investment in long-term network resilience for the local community.
“As the UK's energy landscape evolves, UK Power Networks is helping enable a low carbon future. By investing and building new equipment now, we're preparing for growing demand from cleaner technologies while ensuring that our customers continue to receive safe, reliable electricity supplies."
Craig Aust, senior construction manager at Clancy, said: “This marks the culmination of a huge amount of skilled technical work by our teams and reaching this point is a tremendous achievement by everyone involved.
“We successfully overcame a range of challenges, coordinating with third parties on access and maintaining high safety standards while working within a particularly restricted site. The project will deliver long-term benefits for the community, I’m extremely proud of the entire team and the strong collaborative effort between Clancy and UK Power Networks.”
The replacement of the two transformers will increase capacity at Tunbridge Wells Grid from 60 megawatts to 90 megawatts.
Science students from Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in the town recently visited Tunbridge Wells Grid to explore engineering and energy careers, supported by local industry professionals.
UK Power Networks operates and maintains a vast network of electricity cables, substations, and power lines that deliver electricity to approximately 20 million people across the South East, London, and East of England. The project in Tunbridge Wells is part of UK Power Networks' £800 million investment programme for the year.
Published: 16/12/2025
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UK Power Networks has installed a new 97-tonne electricity transformer with one-third more capacity than its two predecessors to support future power demand, enable more low carbon technologies and maintain safe, reliable electricity supplies.
The transformer receives electricity at 132,000 volts, steps it down to 33,000 volts for distribution to smaller substations, and helps power more than 32,000 homes and businesses in the town.
Investment began last winter when the first of two existing transformers was dismantled and taken away for recycling, making room for a new transformer that arrived in the summer. Since then work has taken place to connect the new equipment to the grid.
Heavy haulage experts delivered the electricity transformer to the electricity substation, and the site team coordinated with Network Rail to safely move it across the London to Hastings railway line without any impact on train schedules.
Sam Hills, assistant project manager at UK Power Networks, said: “Our close collaboration with partners and the professionalism of our teams have ensured the smooth delivery of the upgraded transformer and investment in long-term network resilience for the local community.
“As the UK's energy landscape evolves, UK Power Networks is helping enable a low carbon future. By investing and building new equipment now, we're preparing for growing demand from cleaner technologies while ensuring that our customers continue to receive safe, reliable electricity supplies."
Craig Aust, senior construction manager at Clancy, said: “This marks the culmination of a huge amount of skilled technical work by our teams and reaching this point is a tremendous achievement by everyone involved.
“We successfully overcame a range of challenges, coordinating with third parties on access and maintaining high safety standards while working within a particularly restricted site. The project will deliver long-term benefits for the community, I’m extremely proud of the entire team and the strong collaborative effort between Clancy and UK Power Networks.”
The replacement of the two transformers will increase capacity at Tunbridge Wells Grid from 60 megawatts to 90 megawatts.
Science students from Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in the town recently visited Tunbridge Wells Grid to explore engineering and energy careers, supported by local industry professionals.
UK Power Networks operates and maintains a vast network of electricity cables, substations, and power lines that deliver electricity to approximately 20 million people across the South East, London, and East of England. The project in Tunbridge Wells is part of UK Power Networks' £800 million investment programme for the year.
Published: 16/12/2025
Back to news