Up to 100 jobs could be created from £32m electricity network improvement project

A MANCHESTER-based civil engineering company has been awarded a £32 million contract to deliver improvements to Shetland’s electricity network.

OCU Group will renew and reinforce wooden poles and overhead lines and make improvements to the underground cable network on behalf of SSEN Distribution.

Up to 100 jobs could be created as a result, SSEN said, with work on upgrading and updating its substations also set to take place.

The Shetland contract is part of a £450 million investment from the energy firm in improving the stability of the north of Scotland’s electricity network.

SSEN said all of the work being undertaken by OCU and SSEN’s Shetland teams is “designed to boost network resilience in the face of a more volatile climate”, and to “increase reliability for every customer”.

OCU Group carries out work in the energy, telecoms, water and transport sectors, and last year acquired RJ McLeod – the Scottish engineering firm that were the main contractors on the Viking Energy wind farm project.

SSEN said the upgrades to the network would also help drive Scotland’s net zero goals.

Director of large capital delivery Fraser Hood said the job of delivering decarbonisation was an “enormous one”.

“This record investment from SSEN in the north of Scotland means we’re in the best possible position to effectively and efficiently deliver the fit-for-purpose electricity system for the future,” he said.

“Our investment of £32m in Shetland will boost the reliability and resilience of our infrastructure here, and this partnership with OCU will also help maintain and create skilled jobs across the community.”