ScottishPower has announced £5.4bn of investment in its electricity network delivering major changes to its green energy infrastructure and green jobs that will ‘bolster the grid for decades to come’.

With electricity demand forecast to double in the next decade, the UK needs more than 600,000km of new or upgraded electricity lines.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said:  “We’re kickstarting the largest overhaul of the grid since its inception. Our investment plans will help grow our electricity networks, grow our workforce and will provide a massive opportunity for the supply chain whilst unlocking growth for the wider economy.

“It is vital we get serious about getting on with the job of consenting and getting this new grid built so that we can take advantage of clean green renewables, transport it around the country and lock in our energy security and maintain the UK’s track record in leading on decarbonisation”.

The £5.4bn worth of contracts will cover the next 10 years and includes transmission projects across central and southern Scotland.  It will help move more green energy across the country to help deliver a low carbon future, connecting 80-85GW of clean renewable energy to the GB transmission system and reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels.

In November, the UK Government announced plans to halve the time it takes to build high voltage power lines and cut the time it takes to connect to the grid.  Its package of measures aims to support economic growth and cement the UK as one of the best countries in the world to invest in renewables.

Read the full ScottishPower announcement.