A SECOND electricity transformer weighing as much as 30 African elephants has been delivered to a sub-station to be installed as part of the Hinkley Connection Project.

The 174-tonne, 29 feet long super-grid transformer was brought by ship from Rotterdam, in The Netherlands, to be off-loaded at high tide at Dunball Wharf, near Bridgwater.

It was needed to support the upgrade of a 275 kV sub-station to 400 kV on the Hinkley Point to Bridgwater overhead electricity line.

The super-grid transformer being offloaded at Dunball Wharf.
The super-grid transformer being offloaded at Dunball Wharf. PHOTO: National Grid. ( )

The 36-mile Hinkley Connection Project will take electricity to Avonmouth from the new Hinkley C nuclear power station, providing six million homes and businesses with low carbon, homegrown energy.

Hinkley Connection Project director Steve Haskayne said: “The new transformer supports the ongoing upgrade of the sub-station on the existing Hinkley to Bridgwater overhead electricity line.

“The upgrade will allow for greater energy security, with the sub-station expected to transfer more power, as future demand increases.”