SP Energy Networks (SP) has announced the successful completion of a £2.1million upgrade project to reinforce and modernise the electricity network in West Lothian to benefit over 70,000 homes and businesses.

SP has completed work at their Paulville Substation in Bathgate, West Lothian. The investment will support the area's predicted use of low carbon technology in the future - such as electric vehicles and home heat pumps - to ensure a robust energy supply and deliver a low carbon future.

The upgrade will provide a secure electricity supply to locals for years to come and supports West Lothian Council's aim to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045. It will also improve the region's connection to the network and provide greater resilience from faults, reducing time off supply.

SP have also installed two new rapid electric vehicle charging points at the new substation. The new chargers will be used as part of a new pilot scheme for the sole use of charging our own fleet of electric vans and cars.

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Paulville is the first substation in the UK where we have fitted fast-charging for electric vehicles, and if the pilot scheme is a success, we will roll the fast-charging technology across our substations around the UK to support our zero-carbon fleet of vehicles.

Craig Arthur, SP Distribution Director, said: "West Lothian is on track to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045 but that will require big changes - as people switch to electric cars and buses, and homeowners upgrade with new heat pump technology.

"We're always looking at ways to improve network capacity to ensure local communities can adopt low carbon technologies and the modernisation of Paulville substation is a great example of this. The investment delivers huge benefits to the residents with modern infrastructure to provide a secure and resilient electricity supply that's fit for the future.

"SP Energy Networks is on a journey to switch over to a fully electric fleet of vehicles. Installing fast chargers for vans on site is a key step for our business as we help the country go greener. Paulville is the first substation to introduce this, but it's really likely we'll see this rolled out right across our network in years to come."

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: "Decarbonising heating and transport systems is one of the most significant challenges to be faced on the path to a net zero West Lothian, and the investment at the Paulville Substation by SP Energy Networks to support the increasing demands on the electricity network from the shift to low and zero carbon technologies is welcomed."