New Kintore substation at forefront of fight against climate change
SSEN Transmission welcomes the approval of the Kintore substation by Aberdeenshire Council, which once constructed, will be the world’s first 400kV Green Gas for Grid (g3) substation. The new, innovative clean gas technology will result in a reduction of emissions equivalent to removing 138,000 cars from our roads for one year when compared to traditional substation gas technology.
The new substation will be built to the West of the existing substation at Leylodge and is a key component in SSEN Transmission’s reinforcement and improvement of the transmission network in the North East and East Coast of Scotland. It will facilitate the connection of new renewable electricity to the National Grid and will also help control the flow of energy across the North East, helping transport renewable electricity to where it’s needed, supporting the transition to net zero emissions and the fight against climate change.
In August 2020 SSEN Transmission announced ambitious plans to reduce its own emissions in line with what is required to meet net zero emissions, becoming the world’s first electricity networks company to receive external accreditation for a science-based target in line with a 1.5°C global warming pathway. The adoption of Green Gas for Grid technology at Kintore is a clear demonstration of that commitment, as it continues to build a Network for Net Zero.
The substation has also been developed in line with SSEN Transmission’s sustainability strategy, with biodiversity considerations helping to inform every stage of the project lifecycle. SSEN Transmission has committed that the project will be constructed with ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity and ecosystems, ensuring that surrounding environment is left ‘no worse off’, whilst actively seeking opportunities to improve the areas bio-diversity.
Commenting on this key milestone for the North East transmission reinforcement, Lead Project Manager, Alison Hall, said:
“We welcome the decision by Aberdeenshire Council to grant consent for Kintore 400kV substation. Once constructed it will play a key role in unlocking the North East’s renewable electricity potential.
“Kintore substation will be the first of its kind to use fully Green Gas for Grid (g3) technology at 400kV and marks a key milestone on our journey to building a network for net zero.
“We would like to thank the local community for their engagement and feedback throughout the project’s development to date. As a responsible developer, we will continue to work closely with the local community throughout the construction phase of the substation, seeking to mitigate the impact of our works and minimise disruption where possible.”
The Kintore substation planning approval follows the consent by Scottish Ministers in December to build new towers and realign some of the existing overhead lines into the new substation.
Work on the substation is scheduled to commence in June 2021 and is expected to take approximately 2 years to complete phase 1, with phase 2 completing in 2026 with energisation of the 400kV upgrade of the East Coast transmission network.