Beauly 132kV Reinforcement Project

We have today published a new economic report setting out the significant economic benefits associated with our planned £29bn investment in new and upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure across the north of Scotland.

The report, titled ‘Re‑energising the North: Transforming Scotland’, provides an update on our previously outlined economic analysis on plans to invest billions in mission-critical grid infrastructure, providing further insight into the scale of economic opportunity associated with the investment programme.

The report reaffirms our programme as one of the largest private infrastructure investments in Scotland’s history, with around £29bn of planned investment across the north of Scotland in the next five years, and it details the extent of the economic opportunity across the region.

Using advanced economic modelling to analyse the impact of clean power infrastructure investment, the report’s findings conclude that our investment: 

• Will support up to 10,000 jobs in the north of Scotland, and 24,000 across Scotland; 
• When added to investment by other transmission operators and investment in generation will add around £60bn to UK economic output - with the Scottish economy up to 3% larger over the long term; 
• Will deliver long-term improvements in productivity, wages and economic resilience, with employees moving into higher-value roles and key sectors expanding permanently; and 
• Will create unique opportunities for Scottish suppliers, businesses and communities across multiple sectors, including forestry, peatland restoration, aggregates and concrete too. 

The findings highlight the importance of ensuring that the benefits of investment are felt locally, with thousands of skilled jobs, increased supply chain activity, and investment flowing into communities across the north of Scotland.

Read the full News and Views article to find out more.

We would like to provide advance notice of planned activity at Breedon’s Quarry.

Removal of redundant transformer

On Monday 29 June, a redundant Super Grid Transformer will be removed from site. This will be carried out by a specialist contractor and transported under a Police Scotland escort.

• Time window: between 10:00 and 11:00

The escorted load is due to travel via the A862 through Beauly, turning right before Muir of Ord Industrial estate to join the A832 headed toward Torr roundabout, at which point it will join the A9 headed south.

Delivery of replacement transformer

A replacement transformer is currently scheduled for delivery under police escort on 6 July 2026. This remains subject to the shipment arriving into Scotland from Italy.

A further update will be provided once the delivery date is confirmed.

Local considerations

We recognise that these movements may cause temporary disruption and we thank the community for their understanding. These works are necessary to support ongoing improvements at the substation.

We are also aware of the upcoming Beauly Gala and will continue to coordinate activities carefully to minimise any impact on local events wherever possible.

Stay informed

We would appreciate this information being shared through local networks and community channels to help ensure residents are aware of the potential for brief delays on Monday 29 June.

If you have any questions, please contact lisa.marchi@sse.com

Unfortunately, we have encountered unforeseen issues during preparatory works. The safety of our workforce is our top priority, and where activities cannot be carried out safely, they will not proceed. As a result, we are re-evaluating the approach to the decommissioning of the transformer. Safety decisions in this regard are non-negotiable. This means the planned removal on Wednesday 17 June will no longer take place.

When the transformer is removed, it will be transported to Breedon’s Quarry for temporary storage. This will remain the case until we are able to reapply for, and secure, a Police Scotland escort. We will provide advance notice once a revised date has been confirmed.

We would be grateful if you could share this update on social media channels and through any mailing lists to ensure the community is aware that the planned movement will not now take place.

We would like to provide advance notice of planned activity at Wester Balblair Substation.

Removal of redundant transformer

On Wednesday 17 June, a redundant Super Grid Transformer will be removed from site. This will be carried out by a specialist contractor and transported under Police Scotland escort.

We are unable to provide an exact time for this movement, as timings are coordinated and controlled by Police Scotland. However, we have requested that, where possible, the operation avoids peak traffic periods to help minimise disruption.

Delivery of replacement transformer

A replacement transformer is due to be delivered under police escort, with the current programme indicating 6 July 2026. This remains subject to the shipment arriving into Scotland from Italy. A further update will be shared once the delivery date is confirmed.

Local considerations

We recognise that these movements may cause some temporary disruption and thank the community for their understanding. These works are necessary to support ongoing improvements at the substation.

We are also aware of the upcoming Beauly Gala and will continue to coordinate our activities sensitively to avoid impacts on local events wherever possible.

Stay informed

We encourage this information to be shared across local networks and community channels to help ensure residents are aware of the potential for brief delays on 17 June.

If you have any questions, please contact - lisa.marchi@sse.com

Local green spaces across Beauly have been given a welcome boost thanks to a community volunteering initiative delivered by teams from SSEN Transmission and their contractor Siemens BAM (SEBAM).

A combined team of around 25 volunteers swapped their usual tools for spades, shovels and rakes to help spruce up several community garden spaces throughout the village.

The volunteers represented both the ongoing Beauly 132kV Substation upgrade as well as development teams from the proposed Fanellan Substation project, delivering a coordinated programme of improvements designed to benefit the local community.

Read the full story here

Following on from our recent notification we would like to inform you that due to the availability of contractor resources,  the traffic management and start of the minor upgrades to the bellmouth have been delayed by a week and will now commence on Monday 2 February.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions

Since our last project update, good progress has continued to be made at the Substation. The project has successfully delivered and installed two of the three new Super Grid Transformers, which, once fully energised, will enhance the resilience of the network and help future‑proof it for increased renewable energy connections. The installation of the new Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) has also advanced and is now entering its final testing phase. Once this equipment is energised, it will enable the progressive removal of the existing 132kV Air Insulated Switchgear, which is currently in operation at the Substation. These works represent an important milestone in the modernisation of the substation infrastructure and will support the delivery of a more reliable and sustainable electricity network.

Notification re: Upcoming Works – Beauly Redevelopment

We would like to inform you that, as part of the ongoing Wester Balblair Substation Redevelopment project, minor upgrade works to the bellmouth opposite the substation gate will commence next week. These upgrades are required in preparation for the cable installation works in the field opposite the substation, which will follow once the bellmouth improvements are complete.

To allow these works to be carried out safely, single‑lane traffic management will be in place on the section of road adjacent to the work area from Monday 26 January to Friday 30 January.

Removing the visible wirescape
Cable installation works will then follow in the field with the preparation of trenches ahead of the installation of the underground circuits.  These works will commence in February through to late Summer. The completion of these works will allow for the undergrounding of circuits from four steel lattice transmission towers (2 circuits between Beauly and Deanie), improving the visual landscape to the North of Wester Balblair Substation.  

The working days and hours are shown below:

• Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 19:00
• Saturday – 09:00 – 13:00 – Please note - These are the working hours should the program require and on alternate Saturdays.
• Sunday – No works

We will continue to keep you updated as these cable installation works progress.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions on the above. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience while these essential works are completed.

The transformer trailer used to transport the second transformer will leave Wester Balblair to go to Invergordon this evening.  The transformer will be transported from Invergordon to Wester Balblair on Saturday morning between the hours of 8am and 10.30am and at approximately 9am on Sunday the trailer will return to Perth.  These traffic movements will be under Police escort.  Due to travelling at slow speed there will be some delays,  we apologise for any inconvenience.

Please note: the re-scheduled second transformer deliveryon the morning of Saturday 5^th July was delayed to approx. 12.30pm. This was due to safety checks undertaken by our hauliers. We would like to thank road users for their patience during the delivery of these essential abnormal loads, which have now been completed and apologise for any inconvenience which may have been caused due to the delay of the second transformer.

We are committed to supporting the communities in the north of Scotland where we operate, both now and in the future. As part of our ongoing efforts to make a difference and have a positive impact on local communities, we are proud to offer volunteering days to local groups and charities, particularly in the areas that host our electricity infrastructure or where our proposed projects are located. 

This month, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Volunteering Webpage, designed to make it easier for local communities to request volunteering support from us. To request our help, simply complete the ‘Volunteering Nomination Form’ linked at the bottom of our new webpage. Please note, as our team works on a voluntary basis, it may take us some time to coordinate our people and match them with opportunities. We kindly ask for your patience as we work to keep up with volunteering demand.

Thank you for considering SSEN Transmission as a partner in your community efforts. Together, we can leave a positive, lasting legacy and help transform communities across the north of Scotland.

On Wednesday 14th December members of the project team went to the Beauly Mission Christmas to deliver gifts that had been donated and collected by the site team.

A small number of the project team had only recently been mobilised to site, therefore, it was a great effort to be able to donate such a large bundle of gifts, in excess of £300.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this years Mission Christmas Appeal and thanks also to Ann and Kathryn for organising the collection.

SSEN Transmission and BAM Nuttall, hope that this helps to give some children and teenagers a wonderful Christmas.

With works on site commencing in late 2022, the project team together with our Principal Contractor, SiemensBAM,  held a Meet the Buyer event last month.  This was an informal drop-in meeting providing the opportunity for local businesses to exchange details and discuss possible opportunities for the local supply chain.

The Project has the potential to create opportunities in the following fields: accommodation, security, fencing, skip hire, catering, cleaning services, PPE/office equipment, plant, taxi services, drinking water.