Lewis Hub energy project moves forward with £143m contract for substation works

A major contract in the development process of the Lewis Hub Substation and Converter Station at Arnish Moor, near Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, has been awarded by SSEN Transmission to Linxon UK Ltd.

The contract, worth nearly £143m, is for initial works for the AC substation element of the Hub, and includes substation design and the procurement of equipment.

The Lewis Hub is a key part of the Western Isles HVDC Connection Project, which will establish a high-voltage sub-sea and underground transmission link connecting to the proposed Fanellan substation development near Beauly, enabling 1.8GW of new renewable electricity generation.

It will connect the Western Isles to the GB transmission network for the first time.

The contract award comes less than two months after Comhairle nan Eilean Siar granted in-principle planning consent, subject to conditions, for the Lewis Hub project.

An SSEN Transmission spokesperson said: “This contract involves the detailed design of the substation and the procurement of essential specialised equipment that will be crucial during the construction phase.

“As a key partner, Linxon is committed to delivering meaningful local benefits in Lewis; engaging with regional businesses, supporting local employment, and contributing to long-term social and economic value. This reflects our broader ambition to deliver lasting social and economic benefits to the Western Isles through our projects.”

A contract award notice for the contract was filed on January 9, 2026 on the UK Government’s online ‘Find A Tender’ portal, which details public procurements and tenders. The notice gives the value of the contract as £142,953,074.40.

Linxon UK Ltd specialises in engineering, procurement, management, and construction services for the development of large and complex AC power substations, specialising in the power generation, railways, utilities, data centres, and battery energy storage sectors, and is based in Epsom, Surrey, England.

Details of the contract for the main construction works for the AC substation, set to begin in 2027, are still to be announced.