The equipment, which each weigh 29 tonnes, arrived yesterday afternoon from the UK and was transported on innovative self-propelled, remote controlled vehicles travelling at 4mph, by a team of operators walking alongside.
The first transformer was moved last night and the second is being transferred this evening from the White Rock to the roundabout at St Julian's Avenue, along Glategny Esplanade, the Longstore, Rouge Rue and up to Beau Sejour.
Jon Sexton, Head of Engineering and Design at Guernsey Electricity, said, “This installation forms an important part of the continual investment in our existing infrastructure. It will future proof our local electricity network, provide extra resilience along with enhanced capacity to meet a more electric future and the switch from fossil fuels.
The project, which began in March 2021, will supply around 25% of the Island’s electricity, primarily in the St Peter Port area. This includes residential properties, offices, shops and Beau Sejour, representing around a third of Guernsey Electricity’s customers. The new substation will be commissioned in November 2021, after which Guernsey Electricity will plant native trees and plants, as well as installing birdboxes and bat boxes to increase the biodiversity to the local area and improve habitats for existing wildlife. The company has been working on this in consultation with Environment Guernsey.
