SSEN Transmission has secured the final major consent for the remaining part of its Argyll and Kintyre 275kV reinforcement project
The series of electricity upgrade projects that will help strengthen Argyll’s transmission network.
The project team received news that the Inveraray to Taynuilt overhead line tie-in to Creag Dhubh Substation has been granted consent – meaning the full Argyll and Kintyre 275kV reinforcement project has now been given approval to proceed.
This application was submitted in February 2023 to the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit, meaning it’s taken close to two years for them to reach a decision.
The project involves constructing a tie-in connection to Creag Dhubh Substation from the existing 132kV Inveraray to Taynuilt overhead line. This involves building two sections of overhead line to connect a circuit to the new substation at Creag Dhubh, which is currently under construction.
Representing the final major consent associated with the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV reinforcement project, the works are required to enable the transportation of renewable energy generation from the Argyll peninsula to the wider electricity network and to provide network security in the area.
The work involves a series of projects to upgrade the capacity of the main transmission network across the region from 132kV to 275kV, with these upgrades ‘crucial’ in enabling the growth in renewable energy across Argyll and ensuring security of the electricity supply in the region, SSEN said.
As part of the project, SSEN Transmission said it has engaged with the local community, including with businesses and other partners in the area to maximise the economic opportunities that these investments represent for Argyll and Kintyre.
Tony Scott, director of capital development and delivery at SSEN Transmission, commented, “Notification that we’ve been granted consent for the Inveraray to Taynuilt overhead line tie-in to Creag Dhubh Substation is fantastic news.
“Investing to upgrade our electricity transmission network is crucial if we are to achieve the country’s energy security and clean power objectives, and it’s also a major driver of jobs and economic activity locally and across the north of Scotland. We’ve been engaging with the local supply chain and other local businesses to explore every opportunity to be involved in this programme of work across the region.
“The fact that the consenting decision took the better part of two years underlines the need for planning reform for electricity infrastructure, and we welcome the work that the Scottish and UK governments are taking forward together in this area. The prize of planning reform is a robust, timely and proportionate process, which meaningfully involves local communities, and a centrepiece should be that determination periods are timebound to 12 months.
“With work already underway at our new Creag Dhubh Substation project, we’re continuing to move at pace to deliver the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV reinforcement project, which will reinforce the transmission network in the region and help support the increase in local renewable energy generation. We will of course ensure that local communities are kept informed as this important project progresses.”
