Transforming the Grid to Secure Our Energy Future

Scotland is at a pivotal moment, and the decisions taken now will shape our economy, communities and energy security for decades to come. As electricity demand grows and more renewable energy comes online, upgrading Scotland's transmission network is essential to carry power from where it's generated to where it's needed.

SSEN Transmission's £29bn planned investment to upgrade our electricity grid, enabling clean, homegrown power, provides a once in a generation opportunity to secure a future that delivers prosperity for people and places across the country.

This is about more than energy security and more affordable bills. It is about unlocking sustained economic growth, creating high-value jobs and driving real opportunities for people and businesses. Our investment will support up to 10,000 jobs in the north of Scotland, and 24,000 across Scotland. Crucially, it provides the long-term certainty businesses need to invest, grow and retain skilled workers across a range of sectors, from engineering and construction to forestry and professional services.

Communities will benefit directly. Alongside jobs and supply chain opportunities, SSEN Transmission will support the delivery of 1,000 homes in the north of Scotland, helping to ease local housing pressures. Areas hosting new infrastructure will also benefit from community funding of over £100m, with decisions shaped by local people to support projects that matter most. Investment in environmental enhancement and restoration projects will further strengthen rural economies, supporting green jobs throughout the north of Scotland.

On average, around £1.6bn a year is expected to flow into businesses across the north of Scotland, creating unprecedented opportunities for local suppliers and supporting growth across a wide range of industries.

The economic opportunities created by this investment extend well beyond the energy sector. Around £250m will be invested in forestry activities, supporting a sector that is a cornerstone of many rural communities and equivalent to a quarter of Scotland’s annual forestry turnover. A major programme of biodiversity net gain and peatland restoration is expected to support up to 700 jobs, creating new opportunities in environmental management and nature restoration, while helping communities benefit from Scotland’s transition to a clean energy system.

This investment is also helping to create conditions for long-term prosperity. Economic analysis indicates that investment in transmission infrastructure and the renewable generation it enables could help grow Scotland’s economy by up to 3% more than would otherwise be the case, while boosting productivity, supporting higher-income jobs and strengthening the country’s competitiveness for the future.

For Scotland, this is not just an infrastructure programme. It is a catalyst for economic growth on a scale not seen since the major hydro developments of the last century.

It is an investment in Scotland’s future — one that strengthens energy security, supports local economies, creates high-value jobs and helps build resilient communities for generations to come.

This article is sponsored by SSEN Transmission

www.ssen-transmission.co.uk