Balfour Beatty has secured a contract for the first phase of the approximately £690m ($880.32m) Skye 132kV Reinforcement Project for Scottish & Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) Transmission.
The project is designed to ensure the supply of sustainable electricity to numerous homes and businesses across the Hebrides and West Highlands in Scotland, UK.
Beatty's contract, valued at £32m, involves the detailed design and development of a new 137km, 132kV double circuit overhead line.
The project's design phase will address the engineering solutions required for the overhead line running between the Fort Augustus and Edinbane substations.
Additionally, it includes the creation of new sealing end compounds to integrate the overhead line with the region's underground electricity network, ultimately connecting the Isle of Skye and Western Isles to mainland Scotland.
Subject to planning consent, Beatty anticipates the full construction contract to be awarded later in 2024, with the main construction activities expected to commence in early 2025.
At the peak of the project, the company is set to employ 650 individuals.
SSEN Transmission deputy project director Paul Higginbotham said: “We’re pleased to strengthen our relationship with Balfour Beatty as a supply chain partner for the Skye 132kV Reinforcement Project, helping us deliver security of supply to homes and businesses along its route from Skye to Fort Augustus, as well as to the Western Isles.”
Beatty's in-house environmental and sustainability team will address the project's requirements to meet SSEN Transmission’s biodiversity net-gain objectives.
Beatty Power Transmission and Distribution business managing director Tony Wilson said: “We have a long and proud history of working with SSEN Transmission. This most recent award is testament to our expertise and capability in delivering overhead lines and underground cabling works in complex and challenging environments.”
The contract comes after Beatty commenced work in collaboration with SSEN Transmission on nine electricity transmission projects in northern Scotland.
