More than 300 jobs created with £450 million energy investment

In a significant move to enhance the electricity infrastructure in Scotland, a £450 million investment program has been launched by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN) to bolster the electricity distribution network in the northern regions of the country. The investment is expected to create over 300 new jobs as contracts have been awarded to five companies that will facilitate upgrades across nine designated sub-regions. The areas benefitting from this transformation include rural communities, villages, towns, and cities situated from Dundee and Aberdeen to Argyll, the Highlands, and all islands of Scotland. The region's electricity network, comprised primarily of wooden poles and overhead lines, will undergo significant renewal, with the updating of substations aimed at achieving better reliability for customers. The investment is particularly crucial, given the harsh climate conditions which often lead to outages. As the Scottish Government emphasizes the importance of decarbonizing the economy, this project is seen as a step forward in supporting low-carbon energy technologies and decarbonized industries, aligning with the net-zero targets set by the government. Fraser Hood, SSEN’s director of large capital delivery, highlighted that the agreement with the selected contract partners will streamline the delivery process, ensuring that the investment efficiently supports sustainable economic growth while also mitigating supply chain risks. The project aims to increase resilience and capacity for approximately 800,000 customers in the northern part of Scotland. Moreover, the transformative nature of the investment positions the region to better adapt to future energy demands and implement advanced technologies, such as electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, and heat pumps. Gillian Martin, the acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, welcomed this substantial investment, noting its benefits for the local workforce, regional economy, and the overarching aim of addressing climate change challenges through a robust electricity system. The deployment of this program has been deemed essential for meeting the current and future demands of users, indicating a proactive approach to maintaining and modernizing infrastructure critical to Scotland's energy needs.