SSEN's £450 Million Investment to Enhance Scotland’s Electricity Network

A £450 million investment in Scotland's electricity distribution network will create over 300 new jobs, as announced by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The investment aims to enhance network resilience, particularly in northern Scotland, which faces harsher climate conditions. The upgrades will support low-carbon technologies such as EV chargers, solar panels, and heat pumps, ensuring greater reliability for customers.

The network improvements will include renewing wooden poles and overhead lines, as well as upgrading substations. This initiative will involve five key contractors: OCU Utility Services Ltd, Clancy Ltd, Freedom Group Ltd, MacAulay Askernish Ltd, and Brush Group, which includes KUS Power Engineering and McGowan Group. These companies will lead the delivery of upgrades across nine regions, covering areas from Dundee and Aberdeen to the Highlands and Scotland’s islands.

The Scottish government has welcomed the investment, noting its role in decarbonizing Scotland’s economy and supporting net-zero targets. SSEN’s director of large capital delivery, Fraser Hood, emphasized that the project will improve resilience, flexibility, and capacity for the 800,000 customers in the region, while creating significant employment opportunities in the process.

The project will also play a key role in meeting future energy demands, ensuring that the network can accommodate sustainable economic growth and evolving energy technologies.