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.

  • Frequently asked questions

    Meaningful engagement with our stakeholders is incredibly important to us, and we’ve worked to answer as many of the questions that we are regularly asked about our work, here.
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  • Why are these projects needed?

    Our ‘Pathway to 2030’ projects are part of a major upgrade of the electricity transmission network across Great Britain. Find out more about how the need for these projects was established, here.
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  • Search for a project

    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 and contact details for our Community Liaison Managers.
    Explore our projects

  • Our role in delivering Net Zero

    Learn more about the role we'll play at SSEN Transmission in the delivery of net zero - This video can also be viewed on Vimeo.

  • Pathway to 2030 Projects

    Find out more about the delivery of our Pathway to 2030 projects - This video can also be viewed on Vimeo.

  • Our consultation process so far

    substations

    Consultation with the public plays a huge role in the development of new substations - find out how we use feedback to shape our plans - This video can also be viewed on Vimeo.

  • Our consultation process so far

    Overhead lines

    Consultation with the public plays a huge role in the development of overhead line routes - find out how we use feedback to shape our plans - This video can also be viewed on Vimeo.

What's next?

In May and June 2024, we presented our potential alignment for the overhead line, alongside potential alternatives, in a series of public consultation events where we sought feedback on these proposals. We would like to thank all those who took the time to attend our in-person consultation events and provide valuable in person and written feedback. The feedback led us to carry out further investigations in some areas and consider some changes to our proposals, we’d like to thank stakeholders for their input which is integral to the development of these projects.  

Reports on Consultation

The Reports on Consultation (ROC) provides a summary of the feedback received in response to proposals for the overhead line, how this has been considered, and confirmation of the final alignment (Proposed Development) intended to be taken forward for planning consent.  We aim to submit our application for the Proposed Development to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government in Spring 2025. The application will be submitted in line with the requirements of section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. A copy of both the ROC and the Summary can be downloaded from the project website for the following projects:

Final Pre-Application (PAC) Alignment Consultation Events

We will shortly be hosting a series of public consultation feedback events for each project from 17 February until 6 March 2025. These events conclude the Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) process for the consent application that will be submitted under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.  

During the events we will share our Proposed Alignment of the overhead lines, including details on how these were developed. We invite any interested stakeholders to attend these drop-in events, to discuss the plans and share final thoughts, ahead of the consent application later in 2025.

Please contact your local Community Liaison Manager if you have any questions about the Reports on Consultation or require any additional information on the consultation events. A full list of venues and dates planned for the events is below:

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.

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

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