SSEN Transmission has officially opened its new £17 million operations warehouse in Inverness, marking a significant investment in the resilience and efficiency of the high-voltage electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland.

The cutting-edge storage facility, built by Beauly-based Global Infrastructure (Scotland) Ltd, is strategically located at Inverness Airport Business Park. The 7,500 square metre warehouse will serve as a vital hub for the safe operation and maintenance of the region's expanding transmission network.

Equipped with heavy lifting and extensive storage capabilities, the new warehouse will enable SSEN Transmission's teams to maintain network effectiveness with enhanced security and monitoring systems. Notably, the majority of the construction work for the facility was undertaken by contractors based in the Highlands, underscoring SSEN Transmission's commitment to local investment.

This development represents a key step in the company's broader strategy to support Scotland's clean power ambitions and its journey towards net-zero emissions. By having essential spares and equipment readily accessible, the new Inverness warehouse will significantly improve the reliability and resilience of the transmission network.

This is the first of two such strategic warehouses for SSEN Transmission, with the second, an identical facility in Dundee's Claverhouse East Industrial Estate, expected to be completed later this year.

John Baillie, Lead Project Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: "We're pleased to see the new Inverness warehouse come to fruition after just under two years of construction. The new operations warehouse represents a crucial investment in our infrastructure, and provides us with state of the art facilities, security and monitoring systems which will support us to effectively manage and maintain the high-voltage electricity transmission network. The completion of this project would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our contractor Global Infrastructure, based in Beauly, who have delivered this project alongside our teams safely and to the highest standard. We're also delighted that the majority of this £17M project has been constructed using contractors from the Highlands, which underlines how SSEN Transmission is committed to investing in the north of Scotland – with more such investments in the pipeline via our £20Bn Pathway to 2030 programme of network improvements. It's an exciting time as the business continues to expand its crucial operations assets across our network. We're now turning towards the second of our new strategic warehouses in Dundee, which we look forward to seeing completed later this year."

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David MacDonald, Managing Director at Global Infrastructure (Scotland) Ltd, commented: "This has been a significant project for Global Infrastructure, and one we're extremely proud to have delivered. We were fortunate to be appointed at a very early stage in the procurement process, which allowed us to work closely with SSEN Transmission from the outset and help shape the successful delivery of this facility. Throughout the project, we engaged over 20 subcontractors, and all in, around 350 individuals played their part in bringing this facility to life. At peak, we had a workforce of around 90 people per shift on site. This flagship facility not only supports the north's electricity network and Scotland's transition to net zero, but also showcases the capabilities of our Highland-based team and supply chain. We're delighted to have delivered it to the highest standards of safety and quality, and it stands as a testament to the strong collaboration across all parties involved. We now look forward to continuing our partnership with SSEN Transmission on future critical infrastructure projects, including the delivery of an identical facility in Dundee."

Graham Leadbitter MP added: "The opening is just the latest piece of good news for the area which is still celebrating the recent ‘Best Airport in Europe (under 2 million passengers)" award for Inverness Airport, and is a real vote of confidence in the North of Scotland's status as an energy powerhouse. The investment this project has brought to the area has been a real boost to local people and businesses, and is crucial in building up operational resilience in the transmission network. My congratulations and appreciation goes to all those involved in the building and opening of this fantastic facility."

The new operations warehouses in Inverness and Dundee are a key part of SSEN Transmission's £20 billion Pathway to 2030 programme, which aims to expand the north of Scotland electricity transmission network. This ambitious series of projects will support Scotland's clean power targets, enhance energy security, and includes the development of new overhead lines, substations, converter stations, and subsea cables to ensure a robust and sustainable energy network for the future. The programme is also expected to support thousands of jobs in the region and deliver over £100 million in community benefit funding.