ScottishPower and BT will collaborate on increasing connectivity throughout windfarms and offices to increase bandwidth and reliability at green energy sites.
In utilising BT’s fibre broadband networks, ScottishPower will gain a boost to its prospective green energy sites. This could include five onshore wind projects totalling 396MW, 10 solar PV sites totalling 326MW and the East Anglia Three offshore wind project totalling 1400MW.
The firms have stated that the connectivity from BT will aid ScottishPower’s operational technology primarily on its windfarms allowing staff to monitor areas like turbine temperature, operating efficiency and the amount of electricity being produced by the site.
“ScottishPower is at the forefront of the delivery of the UK’s Net Zero targets and the transition to a more sustainable future,” Allan Ferguson, UK director of infrastructure, operations and communications at ScottishPower.
“As we grow our renewable energy generation, investing in more windfarms, battery storage and green hydrogen production facilities, IT needs to ensure it supports the business growth and BT is helping us achieve that by helping to future-proof the IT network. I look forward to working with BT in delivering this strategic award.”
The strategic partnership between ScottishPower and BT is expected to help facilitate the growth in capacity of renewable projects and increase the green energy output. This will also optimise the projects further supporting net zero targets.
ScottishPower launched its biggest ever recruitment drive in July 2022, with the firm looking to hire at least 1,000 new recruits in the next 12 months. The move follows the company securing a record number of green energy infrastructure projects in the first half of 2022, it said.
This will also see an expansion of its renewable capacity and the new partnership with BT will help contribute to this increased rollout in the coming years.
“We understand critical national services and like ScottishPower, we also want to power Scotland’s green economic growth. We are therefore delighted that ScottishPower has trusted us and awarded us this multi-million-pound contract as the provider of choice to run its national infrastructure,” said Alan Lees, regional director for BT’s Enterprise business in Scotland.
“At BT, we pride ourselves on offering unrivalled, robust and reliable network solutions for our customers including ubiquitous connectivity in hard-to-reach rural sites. We look forward to providing integrated solutions to meet the needs of ScottishPower and its customers as we work together to help to support the growth of renewable energy.”
ScottishPower’s chief executive Keith Anderson recently called for “unprecedented action” amid the ongoing energy crisis whilst laying out proposals to help reduce household bills over the coming winter months.
In an open letter, Anderson stated he believes the government could integrate support measures to help the most vulnerable in the winter whilst also setting up a deficit fund to cover the difference between what people pay and how much it costs to supply their homes with gas and electricity.
