Projects delivering a Network for Net Zero

Projects delivering a Network for Net Zero - Pathway to 2030

We are investing over £20bn to upgrade the network infrastructure across the north of Scotland between now and 2030 as the region plays a leading role in the clean energy transition.

As a mass transporter of renewable energy, the north of Scotland electricity transmission network has a major role to play in supporting delivery of Scotland and the UK’s 2030 net zero targets, connecting new onshore and offshore renewables generation and transporting the power generated to demand centres in the rest of Scotland and beyond.

This investment is critical to powering change and meeting Scotland and the UK’s renewable energy targets, accelerating our delivery to meet the 2030 offshore wind connection dates, known as the Pathway to 2030. This investment will also play a vital role in helping ensure our future energy security by using affordable, home-grown, low carbon electricity while providing significant economic and employment opportunities supporting 20,000 jobs across the UK, 9,000 of which will be in Scotland.

The projects include new overhead lines, substations and subsea links and are part of a major upgrade of the electricity transmission network across Great Britain. Explore this page to find out more about our Pathway to 2030 projects and view our useful frequently asked questions below.

What are the Pathway to 2030 projects and why are they needed?

Videos: Our role in delivering Net Zero and our Pathway to 2030 Projects

Our role in delivering Net Zero

Click the play button to watch our video and to learn more about the work SSEN Transmission is doing to deliver Net Zero.

This video can also be viewed directly on Vimeo.

Duration: 2 minutes 29 Seconds.
Pathway to 2030 Projects

Click the play button to watch our video and to learn more about our Pathway to 2030 Projects

This video can also be viewed directly on Vimeo.

Duration: 4 minutes 43 Seconds.

What we are doing now

Overhead line Consultations

Following public consultation events on the potential alignment for our new 400kV overhead lines throughout 2024, we received detailed feedback from a wide range of stakeholders.

We would like to thank all those who took the time to attend our in-person consultation events, read through our consultation materials, participated in any follow up meetings and provided valuable written feedback. Stakeholder input is integral to the development of these proposals and is much appreciated.

Previous timeline

For Spittal to Beauly and Beauly to Peterhead our intention was to publish our Reports on Consultation in late Summer/early Autumn and carry out our Pre-Application Public Consultation presenting the final alignment in Autumn 2024. We then planned to submit our Section 37 Planning Application in Winter 2024.

Updated timeline

Overhead lines

Beauly – Blackhillock – New Deer – Peterhead
Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly

The feedback provided has made it necessary to carry out further investigation in some areas and consider several changes to our proposals. These further investigations are now being concluded, and we intend to publish our Reports on Consultation (ROC) in January 2025.

Following publication of the ROC’s, we plan to carry out our Pre-Application Engagement Events early next year to present the final alignment, ahead of submitting our Section 37 Planning Applications in Spring 2025.

Tealing - Kintore

We currently plan to publish our Report on Consultation (ROC) in January. Following publication of the ROC, we intend to carry out our Pre-Application Engagement Events, presenting the final alignment, early next year. Following these engagements, we aim to submit our Section 37 Planning Applications in Spring 2025.

Please contact your local Community Liaison Manager if you have any questions or queries.

Substations

Following our pre application consultations for the new 400kV substations and HVDC converter stations earlier this year we are now finalising our planning submissions. We will submit each of these separately to the relevant local authority for consideration. Once submitted information will be available on the relevant project web pages.

Ground Investigation Works

Over the coming weeks and months, our project teams and contractors will continue to undertake walkover surveys and ground investigation works, to help inform the final stages of development relating to the alignment of new 400kV overhead lines across the Pathway to 2030 projects.

Ground investigations typically involve drilling boreholes and/or digging trial pits, allowing engineers to understand the engineering properties of the soil and rock beneath potential tower locations and their ability to support the structures. These assessments are a necessary step in any new developments.

Where more intrusive assessments are required, we will work to keep local disruption and environmental impacts to a minimum.

Our project teams will oversee the contractors’ works, who may employ specialist supervision from ecologists and archaeologists to ensure the works do not impact on local wildlife or archaeological assets.

Learn more about our Pathway to 2030 projects

North Highlands

Spittal, Loch Buidhe, Beauly

Projects within our North Highland region involve a new 400kV Substation in the Spittal area, a subsea cable between Spittal and Peterhead, and a new 400kV overhead line between Spittal and Beauly. New 400kV substations are also required at Loch Buidhe and the Beauly area to enable these connections.

Explore North Highlands projects
Central Highlands

Beauly and onwards

Projects within our Central Highland region centre around Beauly. These include a subsea cable from the Western Isles, a 400kV overhead line from Spittal and a new 400kV overhead line to Peterhead, and a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Converter station. These connect to a new 400kV substation close to the existing one in Beauly.

Explore Central Highlands projects

North East

Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer, Peterhead

Our North East region spans between Beauly and Peterhead and includes a new 400kV overhead line between these two locations alongside new 400kV substations at each end. Along the way, the line will also be connecting in to new 400kV substations needed at Blackhillock and New Deer.

Explore North East projects
East Coast

Peterhead, Kintore, Fiddes, Tealing

Our East Coast works include a subsea link from Spittal connecting to a new 400kV substation at Peterhead and a new 400kV overhead line from Beauly. An HVDC switching station is also required at Peterhead, alongside 132kV and 275kV substation works. Further south, works include a new 400kV overhead line between Kintore and Tealing, new substations and line reconductoring.

Explore East Coast projects

Thoughts from our Managing Director

"By enabling the growth in low carbon and affordable renewable electricity generation, this investment will help support the country’s future energy security, reducing our dependence and price exposure to volatile global wholesale gas markets. We now look forward to working closely with our stakeholders to progress the development of these critical national infrastructure projects and deliver the electricity transmission network required to meet our future energy ambitions."

Rob McDonald, Managing Director, SSEN Transmission

Register to be kept up to date on the progress of our 'Pathway to 2030' projects, supporting the delivery of net zero targets.

Register for updates

Explore our interactive map or use our easy-to-use Project Search to locate a project that is of interest to you. Our dedicated project web pages provide useful information about each of our projects, important documentation and contact details for our Community Liaison Managers.

Search for a project

Projects delivering a Network for Net Zero Pathway to 2030