BIRMINGHAM, England — Burns & McDonnell is consolidating its expansion across the U.K. transmission market, having been selected as a preferred bidder by SSEN Transmission to deliver onshore transmission infrastructure across Scotland. SSEN Transmission’s £10 billion framework will be pivotal to help the U.K. and Scottish Governments reach their 2030 renewable energy and energy security targets.

As a result of this selection, Burns & McDonnell have been awarded a contract by SSEN Transmission to engineer, procure and construct (EPC) a proposed new substation in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This project is part of Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) programme, which represents a streamlining of 26 projects across the electricity grid, in pursuit of the U.K. Government’s target to reach the total decarbonization of the power system by 2035.

The creation of the proposed new substation, which will be 400kV capable, marks a significant step towards achieving the U.K. and Scottish Government offshore wind targets for 2030, and securing the country’s future energy independence.

The contract continues the growth of Burns & McDonnell in the U.K. and adds to the portfolio of work it is undertaking. The business, which has been operating in the United States for 125 years, opened its first European office in Birmingham in 2017. Since then, the team in the U.K. has more than tripled in size. It added a business practice in London focusing on mission-critical projects in 2020 and opened its new Scottish office in June 2022.

Jonathan Chapman, U.K. Managing Director, Burns & McDonnell, says:

“I’m delighted that SSEN Transmission has once again chosen to partner with Burns & McDonnell on a major transmission framework, and it is a testament to the quality of our work as a team. It is fantastic to have been awarded the new EPC project as part of the ASTI programme, and we are committed to using local content, which will bolster the economic impact of this project on the local community in Aberdeenshire. We are also proud to be part of the work being done to support the U.K.’s transition to net zero.”

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of more than 13,500 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists, and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from 70 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn how we are designed to build.