West Midlands company Western Power Distribution (WPD) has pledged additional resources with a value of £5 million to enhance its electrical network in Staffordshire. The multi-million-pound investment is designed to play an important part in driving the UK’s green recovery.
WPD is currently the network operator for electricity network distribution throughout the Midlands, and it has commented that the funds will help it deliver vital network updates that are capable of supporting the emerging technologies required to meet the government’s goal of achieving net zero.
The new initiative will see the operator upgrade and construct all-new electrical infrastructure, as well as substations, and it will help it enable greener developments, like rolling out heat pump installations, electrical vehicle charge points and solar parks to easily connect with the electricity network.
Businesses in Staffordshire and Chester looking for electrical installations and system upgrades completed by professionals should only use certified electricians to complete the work, for both safety and to keep compliant.
Operation Director for WPD, Graham Halladay, commented to Business Live that:
“The investment is another signal of our determination to support the country’s Net Zero ambitions. During the pandemic, we have continued to innovate and find ways of lowering carbon footprint, and we will now play a pivotal role in driving a green recovery.”
Upgrade plans include the current electrical network near the motorway services of Cannock, Stafford North and Bushbury, adding a 60MW capacity for solar farms and other forms of renewable generation, and a further 62MW of capacity to meet demand.