Scotland’s electricity infrastructure is set for a major upgrade, with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) announcing a £450 million investment into the north of the country’s grid over the next five years—one of the largest distribution-level upgrades in recent history.
300 Jobs, Resilience, and Clean Energy
The ambitious programme will cover Dundee, Aberdeen, the Highlands, and Scotland’s islands, and is expected to create at least 300 skilled jobs, while strengthening the backbone of the electricity network ahead of rising demand from heat pumps, EVs, and rooftop solar.
The upgrade will replace ageing wooden poles and overhead lines, modernise substations, and enhance parts of the underground network. It will also prepare the grid to handle future clean energy loads—crucial for Scotland’s legally binding climate targets.
“We will be making it more reliable, replacing equipment that’s already there, giving it more capacity,” said Fraser Wilson, SSEN’s head of network development. “The power will be there when people want to connect.”
Preparing for the Electrification Surge
SSEN said the investment is designed to “futureproof” the distribution-level system—the part of the grid that delivers electricity directly to homes and businesses—as Scotland transitions away from fossil fuels.
The announcement comes amid growing pressure on the UK’s distribution infrastructure, as more households install electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar panels. Network operators are racing to upgrade systems that were never designed for bi-directional energy flow or large-scale electrification.
Fraser Hood, SSEN’s Director of Large Capital Delivery, said partnering with five firms—OCU Utility Services Ltd, Clancy Ltd, Freedom Group Ltd, Macaulay Askernish Ltd, and Brush Group—would reduce supply chain risks and ensure access to specialist labour.
“This investment will bring benefits for our workforce, our supply chains, and our regional and national economies,” said Gillian Martin, Scotland’s Energy Secretary.
Disruption Likely
Some temporary power outages and roadworks will be required during the rollout, SSEN acknowledged. However, the company said these would be carefully managed to minimise disruption.
Scotland’s energy network is already undergoing historic levels of investment, with parallel upgrades underway in transmission infrastructure, including major new connections for offshore wind in the Moray Firth and Western Isles.
The SSEN programme forms part of a wider effort to upgrade local distribution networks—often overlooked in favour of large-scale generation projects—yet crucial to realising the full benefits of renewable energy and electrification at the community level.
