Two massive transformers successfully delivered - Marblehead Current

Oct 18, 2024

Two massive transformers, each weighing more than 100,000 pounds, have successfully arrived at their new home — known as the Village 13 substation — along the Rail Trail behind the Marblehead Animal Shelter. The transformers were delivered and unloaded without incident, marking a significant milestone in the $9 million upgrade to Marblehead’s electrical infrastructure.

“The two transformers were successfully delivered and unloaded,” Marblehead Municipal Light Department General Manager Joe Kowalik told the Current on June 27. “The crane is leaving tonight.”

The transformers arrived in a procession of two tractor trailers under police escort, entering the town via Tedesco Street, continuing down Pleasant Street, turning left onto Pleasant before making a final left onto the Rail Trail near Gilbert and Cole.

To ensure a smooth delivery, several steps were taken. Mayer Tree Service trimmed vegetation along Bessom Street to Village 13. A large, 450-ton crane arrived the day before to handle the unloading of the transformers.

Residents experienced temporary parking and road restrictions along the delivery route, particularly on Village and Pleasant streets.

The new transformers serve a critical role in Marblehead’s electrical infrastructure by stepping down high-voltage electricity from transmission lines to a lower voltage suitable for residential and commercial use, according to Kowalik. They are a key component of the Village 13 substation, which is essential for distributing power throughout the town.

A $9 million investment

Kowalik said the $9 million project represents a significant investment in Marblehead’s future, funded entirely through cash reserves accumulated by MMLD. This means, he said, the upgrade won’t impact residents’ electricity rates.

“We’ve been setting aside 5% of our revenue each year for capital improvements,” Kowalik said. “This allows us to make these significant investments without burdening our ratepayers with additional costs.”

The new transformers will replace aging equipment at the Village 13 substation that has far exceeded its expected lifespan.

The transformers themselves are complex pieces of equipment, primarily composed of copper wire and oil. They will not only replace the aging equipment but also increase the substation’s capacity. Each new transformer will allow for more power individually than the one it replaces, providing about a 50% increase in capacity.

The summer of 2025

Marblehead Municipal Light Commissioner Jean-Jacques Yarmoff and Kowalik said this upgrade is crucial for meeting Marblehead’s growing electricity needs, especially with the anticipated increase in electric vehicles and heat pumps in the coming years.

“We’ve been planning this for three years. It’s not just about replacing old equipment; it’s about preparing Marblehead for the future of electrification,” Yarmoff said.

While the transformers’ arrival is a significant step, it’s just one part of a larger upgrade to the Village 13 substation. The new transformers will initially be stored on-site while additional equipment, like switch gears, is installed. The entire project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025.

Yarmoff said the department has yet to figure out what to do with the old transformers — which will still have value once they are decommissioned.

This upgrade is not just about increasing capacity but also improving reliability and preparing for the future. Yarmoff elaborated on the long-term vision.

“We’re anticipating growth of about 1.7% per year in electricity use, taking into account electric vehicles and heat pumps,” he said. “These transformers are going to get us part of the way there, but we’re also looking at other solutions like utility-scale batteries and encouraging residential solar installations.”

A critical component of this project was the construction of a land bridge on site, completed on May 15, at the Village 13 substation to hold the weight of the new transformers. This engineering feat was necessary to protect a 50-year-old sewer main pipe that runs adjacent to the main substation.

“We had to be absolutely certain we wouldn’t disturb that sewer main pipe,” Kowalik said. “More than 50% of the total sewage in Marblehead goes through that pipe. Breaking it was just not something we could even contemplate.”

Leigh Blander contributed reporting to this article.