Grid Upgrades Strengthen the UK’s Electricity Network

Investment in the UK’s electricity grid continues to gather pace as major infrastructure upgrades are delivered to support growing demand, housing development, and the transition to cleaner energy.

Recent projects in London and the South East highlight how targeted upgrades are improving capacity, resilience, and long-term reliability for homes and businesses.

One of the most significant developments is the progress made by National Grid, which has successfully energised new circuits as part of the London Power Tunnels 2 programme. This major underground tunnelling project is designed to modernise electricity transmission across the capital, replacing ageing cables and strengthening the network that powers millions of Londoners. Once fully complete, the scheme will play a crucial role in improving reliability, reducing the risk of outages, and supporting future growth in electricity demand.

Further south, UK Power Networks has announced a £3.3 million investment in a new transformer at its substation in Tunbridge Wells. The 97-tonne transformer represents a significant upgrade, boosting local capacity and helping to secure electricity supplies for around 32,000 homes. Projects like this are essential as communities grow and as more homes adopt electric heating, electric vehicles, and renewable technologies.

Together, these upgrades demonstrate the scale of work underway across the UK to future-proof the electricity grid. From large-scale transmission projects beneath major cities to targeted local investments in substations, modernising the network is a critical foundation for economic growth, housing delivery, and the wider energy transition.

As demand for electricity continues to rise, sustained investment in grid infrastructure will remain essential—not only to keep the lights on today, but to ensure the network is ready for the cleaner, more electrified future ahead.