SSEN Transmission’s £17m high-tech warehouse at Inverness Airport officially opened

A £17m hub designed to bolster the efficiency of the north of Scotland's high-voltage electricity transmission network has officially opened at Inverness Airport Business Park.

SSEN Transmission said the opening of the state-of-the-art storage facility represents a significant step forward in the company's commitment to supporting Scotland's clean power ambitions.

It has been built by Beauly-based Global Infrastructure (Scotland).

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The 7500 sq m warehouse includes heavy lifting facilities and storage facilities to allow SSEN Transmission to keep the network operating effectively, with enhanced security and monitoring in place around the new site.

The warehouse, the majority of which was built by contractors from the Highlands, is strategically positioned to optimise logistics and support SSEN Transmission's expanding transmission network across the north of Scotland.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in the company's commitment to supporting Scotland's clean power ambitions and advancement towards net-zero emissions, while also ensuring the transmission network is made more resilient and reliable by having the spares within easy reach.

It is the first of two such warehouses for SSEN Transmission, with the second in Dundee’s Claverhouse East Industrial Estate set to be completed later this year.

SSEN Transmission’s lead project manager, John Baillie, said the company was pleased to see the new Inverness warehouse come to fruition after just under two years of construction and said it would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of contractor Global Infrastructure.

“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,” he said.

He said it underlined how SSEN Transmission was committed to investing in the north of Scotland with more such investments in the pipeline via its £20 billion 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,” he added.

David MacDonald, managing director at Global Infrastructure (Scotland), said it had been a significant project for the company and one they were 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,” he said.

“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.”

Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter congratulated all those involved in the building and opening of the “fantastic” facility.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

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