SSE has reported a record year of investment as it pushes to reduce the UK’s reliance on volatile global energy markets.
The electricity infrastructure company invested £3.6bn in the 2025/26 financial year, rising from £2.9bn the prior year, as it works to strengthen the UK’s electricity grid and lower energy bills.
The FTSE 100 group also reaffirmed its goal to deliver £33bn in investment by 2030, with a primary focus on the electricity network in the north of Scotland.
The boost in investment contributed £9.7bn to the UK economy over the last year, the company said.
Martin Pibworth, chief executive of SSE, said: “That… is reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile global energy markets and providing more stable, predictable returns through the energy transition, while supporting economic growth and cutting bills for consumers.”
Pibworth added: “By… accelerating electrification and building energy infrastructure to unlock homegrown renewables, we are strengthening energy security and lowering system costs over time.”
Construction got underway on five out of 11 major transmission projects, while the company’s Dogger Bank project began installing wind turbines, with 20 in place as of May.
The group’s Ferrybridge battery storage system also entered full operation in March 2026, marking another milestone in its infrastructure expansion programme.
Shares were largely unchanged in early trading at 2,429p, having risen 8.8 per cent since January.
However, the sharp rise in investment offset potential profit growth, with profit before tax sliding six per cent to £2bn from £2.1bn the prior year.
The group credited the decline to its ongoing heavy investment, spending more than it earned over the course of the financial year on revitalising energy infrastructure.
Its renewable arm saw a four per cent rise in profit to £1m despite weaker weather conditions during the period.
Its flexibility arm, which manages power loads by temporarily altering when electricity is generated, reported a 13.4 per cent decline to £375.5m.
Earnings per share slipped to 153.5p from 161.3p the prior year, though the figure remained at the upper end of guidance.
The board recommended a final dividend of 47.3p, taking the full-year dividend to 68.7p, representing a seven per cent rise.
Duncan Ferris, investment writer at Freetrade, said: “For the moment, SSE’s energy transition plans and operations are on track, and the Business appears to be bearing the weight of investment well.”
Ferris added: “That’s just as well, as build out projects like SSE’s are an important part of the UK energy infrastructure puzzle.”
He also noted: “SSE will hope that the future potential of its grid buildout and increased dividend payments are enough to keep investors interested while the business prioritises investment over near-term earnings momentum.”
The group expects to increase its investment to over £5bn in the next financial year, in line with expectations, while anticipating profits to remain flat across its transmissions and renewables businesses.