This programme will renew and upgrade the subsea electricity links connecting island communities across Scotland, further improving resilience and increasing capacity to meet growing demand.

Running for an initial five-year period, with the option of an extension for a further three years, SSEN Distribution estimates this framework investment will help support more than 450 specialised jobs for every year the agreements are in place, meaning well over 3,500 fixed-term roles could be sustained by the overall programme.

These will be across framework partners as well as within SSEN Distribution’s own subsea team. Positions will be in and around installation sites, and at company bases.

SSEN’s distribution network linking Scotland’s islands takes electricity on the final part of its journey to homes and businesses. Ensuring these critical links are upgraded and renewed will allow customers to connect new technologies like EV chargers, solar panels and heat pumps to the network. These connections will also benefit local energy generators seeking to produce and export clean power. And they will support increased demand and decarbonisation — with its associated economic growth — by important island-based industries like distilleries.

Five contract partners will deliver investment on Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ behalf, with a strong focus on a more locally-based supply chain. They are Burntisland-based Briggs Marine; DOF Subsea UK and N-Sea, both of which have bases in Aberdeen; and Enshore Subsea and Jan De Nul. Specific projects will be allocated according to each contract partner’s specialisms and resources.

The participation of several framework partners will deliver additional benefits. These partners — and the resources like the specialised vessels they will have at their disposal — will give more scope to install multiple subsea cables at the same time during the relatively narrow summer window when weather conditions are more favourable. And there will be a larger pool of contract partners to deploy if an unexpected network fault requires urgent inspection and repair.

In the longer term, upgrades to subsea connections will deliver more resilient and secure electricity connections for island communities, thus reducing the likelihood of needing to run locally-based backup power stations based on islands themselves.

The certainty these longer-term contracts give SSEN Distribution’s partners will help them make strategic operational decisions. This will have a positive effect on the jobs and careers they are able to offer in local communities, while also providing greater certainty in the supply chain for SSEN Distribution itself as it embarks on the biggest phase of network development in its history.

And as the Just Transition for energy sector workers continues, these frameworks will support sustainable employment in the industry towards the delivery of a decarbonised grid.

SSEN Distribution’s long-term approach also aligns with the direction from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), Ofgem and the UK and Scottish Governments on strategically planned, proactive investment. The recently-published Sector Growth Plan predicts the jobs involved in reinforcing electricity networks could contribute between £4 billion and £11bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) by the middle of the century.

Gillian Martin MSP, cabinet secretary for energy, said: “This welcome investment by SSEN Distribution will help upgrade the subsea network serving Scotland’s islands, improving its resilience and supporting Scotland’s net zero ambitions.

“It will also support thousands of high-quality green jobs and drive new growth across the local, regional and national economies as part of our net zero transformation.”

Kevin Galbraith, SSEN Distribution’s subsea project director (large capital delivery), said: “Subsea connections are becoming ever-more important as Scotland’s island communities seek to invest in EV charging, heat pumps, and the decarbonisation of their industries.

“In addition to providing the networks fit for supporting this growth in the use of clean power, these framework agreements will also underpin the ambitions of islanders to generate, store, and export more renewable energy.

“The agreements themselves will ensure delivery of this investment will be rolled out in a seamless, co-ordinated way, and this will provide both customers and supply chains with the certainty they’re looking for. This multi-year investment will also provide greater job security and new opportunities for employment in this growing sector.”

Craig English, Briggs Marine renewables’ subsea & environmental services director, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded all lots of the SSEN Distribution Supply & Install Subsea Cable Framework. This reflects the strength of our 23-year-long partnership with SSEN Distribution’s subsea team and our continued commitment to supporting the resilience and growth of its network.

“We look forward to helping deliver its ambitious strategic development and major capital programmes through our comprehensive subsea services and specialist marine & high voltage expertise.”

Dag Raymond Rasch, EVP Atlantic Region of DOF, said: “We’re proud to be awarded this framework with SSEN Distribution for provision of Cable Installation, Repair and Replacement. This agreement is a strong endorsement of our capabilities and significantly strengthens our Cable Installation, Repair and Replacement portfolio.

“It reinforces our strategic focus on delivering high quality, scalable solutions for our customers and positions us well for continued growth in this area.”

Pierre Boyde, Enshore Subsea’s chief executive officer, said: “Enshore is pleased to have been accepted onto the SSEN Distribution subsea cable installation framework agreement. These projects are vital to ensuring continued development and network resilience of the communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and Enshore looks forward to building a strong, collaborative relationship with SSEN Distribution as opportunities come forward.”

Wouter Vermeersch, director subsea cables offshore energy at Jan De Nul, said: “We’re proud to partner with SSEN Distribution through this framework to renew and develop additional subsea electricity links for Scotland’s islands. With our large cable installation fleet, highly-skilled crew and experience with interconnectors in the UK, we’re fully equipped to deliver within the programme.”

Patrick Defilet, N-Sea’s survey business unit director and Jack Wattel, N-Sea’s subsea cables business unit director, added: “We’re delighted to participate in multiple Framework Agreements with SSEN Distribution, supporting a range of disciplines as part of its subsea programme. By signing these Framework Agreements, N-Sea can continue to invest in people, new technology and assets across our portfolio. N-Sea is a firm supporter of SSEN Distribution and shares its ambition of greater network resilience and increased capacity, to support economic growth.

“With our Aberdeen office, projects can be delivered with the full support of the experienced Scottish supply chain, established by N-Sea through extensive operations here.”