Overview of North Highlands Projects
The north of the Highlands is home to some of the UK’s greatest renewable energy resource and will play a key role in enabling the delivery of the UK and Scottish Governments net zero targets. To take this power to where it is needed, we are upgrading existing lines and, where required, building new overhead lines and subsea cable infrastructure. To be able to achieve the government’s targets this work will need to be completed by 2030, in line with our pathway to 2030 plans.
Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV Connection
We are reinforcing the overhead line network from Spittal to Loch Buidhe to Beauly as part of the wider Pathway to 2030 strategy. This reinforcement project spans a significant length of the north of Scotland and will involve the construction of a new 400kV overhead line connection, between the new proposed substations at Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly.
New Spittal Area 400kV substation and HVDC converter station (Banniskirk Hub)
A new Spittal 400kV substation is essential to facilitate connections of the Spittal, Loch Buidhe, Beauly 400kV overhead line and the Spittal to Peterhead HVDC subsea cable link. A HVDC (high voltage direct current) converter station is also required in the vicinity of the new Spittal substation site as part of the wider subsea link project.
New Loch Buidhe Area 400kV (Carnaig) Substation
To connect the new Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV overhead line, a new 400kV substation is required near the existing 275kV substation at Loch Buidhe. The new 400kV substation will also require a connection to the existing 275kV substation.
New Fanellan 400kV substation and Converter Station
A new 400kV substation is needed at Fanellan, near Beauly, for the connection of the Spittal, Loch Buidhe, Beauly 400kV overhead line and the Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer, Peterhead 400kV overhead line. This new substation will be located near to the existing Beauly substation.
Spittal to Peterhead HVDC Subsea Cable Link
In addition to the new onshore overhead line and substation projects, a new HVDC (high voltage direct current) subsea link between Spittal and Peterhead is also necessary to support the growth of renewable energy. The HVDC link will allow surplus renewable energy to be exported south to Peterhead without the need of a second onshore 400kV overhead Line. It will do this by connecting to a landfall site in Spittal.