Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has unveiled its contract partners for a £450 million investment programme aimed at upgrading the electricity distribution network in the north of Scotland between now and 2030.

The initiative focuses on bolstering network resilience, supporting low-carbon technology connections, and improving reliability for customers.

The investment will fund the renewal and reinforcement of existing infrastructure, including wooden poles, overhead lines, substations, and underground networks. This upgrade is crucial for facilitating the integration of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, solar panels, heat pumps, and other low-carbon technologies into the grid.

Five companies – OCU Utility Services Ltd, Clancy Ltd, Freedom Group Ltd, Macaulay Askernish Ltd, and Brush Group (including KUS Power Engineering and McGowan Group) – have been selected to deliver upgrades across nine sub-regions within SSEN's north of Scotland licence area. This diverse region spans from Dundee and Aberdeen to Argyll, the Highlands, and Scotland's islands.

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The partnerships will enable SSEN to effectively plan and execute upgrades, connections, and asset replacements, minimising disruption to customers. This programme supports SSEN's RIIO-ED2 commitments and contributes to SSE Group's Net Zero Acceleration Programme Plus (NZAP+) targets.

Gillian Martin MSP, Scotland's Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, said: "Decarbonising Scotland's economy depends heavily on significant investment in the upkeep and futureproofing of our electricity system, so the network can meet the demand from users now and in the future. I welcome this substantial investment from SSEN Distribution in the north of Scotland, which will not only bring benefits for our workforce, our supply chains, and our regional and national economies but also support our net zero targets."

Fraser Hood, SSEN's Director of Large Capital Delivery, said: "We're proud to have signed agreements which will deliver massive improvements to local electricity networks in the north of Scotland.

The transformative investment we're making means we're in the best-possible position to deliver an electricity system which will support sustainable economic growth, benefit the environment in the decades to come, and create significant job opportunities during construction in communities across the north of Scotland."