A leading energy provider is investing £14m in Greater Manchester to support the wider city-region’s bid to be carbon neutral by 2038.
The infrastructure provided by Electricity North West (ENW) will create capacity to power the switch to new technologies like electric vehicles - a vital part of Greater Manchester’s ‘green’ ambitions.
An expanded high voltage network powered by substations and underground cables will be established across eight projects including in Manchester city centre from Castlefield to Piccadilly, Mayfield and the Etihad Campus.
A further £7m is also being invested in a substation near around Airport City which will double the energy output and supply power to thousands of homes and businesses in south Manchester.
According to ENW, which operates the electricity network across much of the North West, sales of electric vehicles in the UK have trebled in the last year.
Demand for electricity is also expected to double by 2050, the year that the UK is hoping to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.
Peter Emery, chief executive of Electricity North West, said: “Through economic growth and the adoption of low-carbon technologies, the demand for electricity is starting to rise and will gather pace rapidly in the years to come.
“The investments we’re making in places like Manchester right now are to ensure the network has enough capacity for the first steps of that transformation, and will guarantee that the major new facilities already being built will have all the power they need to drive growth.”
Last month a report by ENW and gas network operator Cadent found that Greater Manchester will only meet its 2038 target if it acts quickly to tackle energy inefficiency, ditch fossil fuel gas and use locally-generated green electricity.
The combined authority is hoping to consult on its Clean Air Plan, which includes the largest Clean Air Zone in the UK, in October after months of delays.
The plan also seeks to provide funding to help people and businesses who would be affected by the proposed daily charge - such as drivers of taxis, vans, buses, coaches, and lorries - to upgrade to less-polluting alternatives such as electric vehicles.
Councillor Andrew Western, who is the Green City-Region lead for the combined authority, welcomed the investment by ENW.
“We know that to meet our ambitious goals we will need a combination of urgent action now and preparation for the longer term,” he said.
“This is a great example of action to make it happen.
“Creating additional capacity on the electricity network in key locations will allow residents and businesses to take up new low carbon technologies over the next 18 years like electric vehicles helping us reach our goal.
Coun Western added: “Achieving net zero is about reducing our environmental impact while improving the quality of life across our towns and cities, and we need to give people and businesses the confidence that the infrastructure we have is there to support them.”
