Biggest ever underground project in SP Manweb is energised

SP Energy Networks, which owns and manages Liverpool’s network of cables and power lines, has completed a major upgrade of 16km of underground cables between Lister Drive and the Gateacre area of Liverpool.

The work cost £15 million and is the largest 132,000 volt underground project to have been undertaken by SP Energy Networks in the SP Manweb area (Merseyside, Cheshire, North Shropshire and both Mid and North Wales) in the last 25 years. The project replaced two high voltage underground circuits, a key component of Liverpool’s electrical infrastructure, which have delivered electricity to local homes and businesses for over 65 years.

SP Energy Networks provides electricity to over 200,000 homes and businesses in Liverpool. The cables cover a geographic distance of 8.2km, but over 50km of underground cables were required during installation. The major works, from April 2015, involved more than 200 people contributing over 15 months.

The project was conducted in consultation with Liverpool City Council to minimise disruption wherever possible during cable excavation and reinstatement works, and to ensure energy supplies to customers were not disrupted. The project was undertaken by Iberdrola Engineering and Construction (IEC), SP Energy Networks’ principal contractor.

Mark Sobczak, Head of 132kV Programmes SP Energy Networks, said: “This was a major upgrade project for the SP Manweb team and the biggest underground project we’ve undertaken in the city of Liverpool, in deed within the SP Manweb. We’re pleased to announce it is now complete; cables are electrified and Liverpool’s electrical infrastructure has been strengthened for years to come.

“It’s our job to keep Liverpool’s lights on, and upgrade works are a big part of making that happen. Local residents and stakeholders were very supportive throughout the project and with Liverpool City Council’s help disruption was kept to a minimum.”

For more information on the services SP Energy Networks provides to local communities across Merseyside please visit spenergynetworks.co.uk, follow @SPEnergyNetwork on Twitter or like facebook.com/SPEnergyNetworks.

For further information, please contact Shaun Bell, Joe Boyle or Georgia Lea by calling 0131 561 8628 or emailing spnetworks@stripecommunications.com

Notes to Editors:

• SP Energy Networks (SPEN) is the licensed Electricity Distributor (DNO) for Central & Southern Scotland and for Merseyside, Cheshire, Mid and North Wales and North Shropshire. We have 30,000 substations (one substation for every 100 customers), 40,000km overhead lines (once around the globe), and 70,000km underground cables.
• SPEN also operates the Transmission Network in Central and Southern Scotland. They take electricity generated from power stations, windfarms and various other utilities and transport it through their vast transmission network, consisting of over 4000 kilometres of overhead and 320 kilometers of underground lines. They have 129 transmission substations in their network that help us to manage extra high voltage electricity supplies.
• From 2015 to 2023 SP Energy Networks plans to invest approximately £5 billion into the electricity network. To keep power supplies on the company currently manages over 110,000km of power cables and 30,000 substations across their network area.