Overview
About the Project
In order to support the continued growth in onshore and offshore renewables across the north of Scotland, supporting the country's drive towards Net Zero, investment in network infrastructure is needed to connect this renewable power and transport it from source to areas of demand across the country.
Extensive studies have confirmed the need for the Beauly – Denny Second Circuit 400kV Upgrade Project and new 400kV substations at Braco West and Fasnakyle. The project includes the following elements:
- A new 400kV substation at Braco West, known as Cambushinnie
- A new 400kV substation at Fasnakyle (near Beauly), known as Bingally
- Modifications or extensions to other substations along the route, including Fort Augustus, Errochty, Kinardochy and Tummel
- Connections to existing substations will also be required as part of the upgrade
Find out more about the Cambushinnie 400kV substation
Find out more about the Bingally 400kV substation
Find out more about the Fort Augustus substation 400kV Upgrade
The existing Beauly – Denny overhead line is 137 miles long and runs from Beauly, north of Inverness, to Denny near Falkirk. It was the first 400kV overhead line built in our network area and became fully operational in 2015. There are two circuits on the overhead line, one running at 400kV and the other at 275kV. We are now required to upgrade the second circuit to 400kV to help transport large scale renewable generation from the north of Scotland to areas of demand.
Due to the overhead line being constructed for 400kV operation on each of its two circuits, but put into service with one operating at the lower voltage of 275kV, we do not anticipate any alterations to the existing overhead line in order to upgrade it.
New 400kV substations are required at Braco West and Fasnakyle to house more sophisticated switching capability than is present in the existing 275kV substations, which requires significantly more space than either existing substation can currently accommodate.
This video outlines how the project contributes to our role in delivering Net Zero.
Braco West Story Map
Our Environmental Consultants, AECOM, have created a story map for Braco West where you can find out more information on the project.
Please let us know if you require information in an adapted format such as paper copy, large print or braille and we will work with you to accommodate your preferences. We are happy to accommodate all reasonable requests for adapted communications.
Pathway to 2030
The Pathway to 2030, published by National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Great Britain, sets the blueprint for the electricity transmission network infrastructure required to enable the forecasted growth in renewable electricity across Great Britain.
The projects identified within the Pathway to 2030 are critical to delivering the UK and Scottish Government’s offshore wind targets. To deliver these targets, we are investing over £10bn to upgrade the network infrastructure across the north of Scotland as the region plays a leading role in the clean energy transition.
As part of this investment, there is a requirement for the Beauly - Denny 400kV Upgrade Project.
How we’re embracing artificial intelligence (AI)
We intend to use AI to assist our experienced teams in the analysis of your feedback, so we can categorise key points raised more quickly. You can learn more about how we’re utilising AI on this dedicated web page.
Project Updates
Featured updates
Featured updates for this project
Project updates
Documents
Pathway to 2030 Projects - Additional Information
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Routeing Overhead Lines - May 24
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- Date:
- 17 May 2024
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- 3.1 MB
This document describes our approach to routeing overhead lines, including our optioneering process, how we assess options and who we consult with
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EMF Leaflet.pdf
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- Date:
- 17 May 2024
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- 18.5 MB
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How stakeholder feedback influences our proposals - May 24
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- Date:
- 17 May 2024
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- 3.4 MB
This document describes the typical engagement activities we hold with a range of different stakeholders, how you can influence the current stage of our projects, the type of feedback we are currently seeking and next steps.
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The challenges with undergrounding at 400kV - May 2024
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- Date:
- 16 May 2024
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- 2.9 MB
We are often asked why our new Pathway to 2030 400kV connection projects cannot all be delivered via an underground cable instead of an overhead line. This paper explores some of the technical and engineering, operational, environmental and economic challenges associated with underground cabling which need to be carefully considered.
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Planning Applications under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
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- Date:
- 15 May 2024
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- 3.2 MB
The main legislation that governs the consenting of our substation and converter station projects is the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. This document describes the pre-application process including consultation, our environmental assessments and our planning application submission and how this is determined.
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Why the Pathway to 2030 projects require both onshore and offshore solutions.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
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- 2.5 MB
We are regularly asked why our Pathway to 2030 transmission network upgrades cannot all be delivered offshore via subsea links. This document explains some of the many factors that drive the need for both onshore and offshore solutions.
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Working with landowners and occupiers - May 24.pdf
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- 13 May 2024
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- 8.2 MB
We recognise landowners and occupiers as key stakeholders in the development of our projects. This document details what happens if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached, concerns about impact on properties, following legal frameworks, biosecurity, and irrigation.
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The Section 37 Consent Process - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
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- 1.7 MB
The legislation governing the consenting of overhead line projects in Scotland is the Electricity Act 1989. Applications for consent to construct and operate new overhead lines are made under Section 37 of this Act and are referred to as “Section 37 Consents”. You can find out more about this process in this document.
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Protecting Private Water Supplies - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
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- 7.2 MB
Construction works and site investigation have the potential to impact on private water supplies (PWS) and we know that this can be a concern to occupants. This document outlines the activities we undertake to identify and protect PWS.
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Pathway to 2030- Why are these projects needed - May 24.pdf
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- 13 May 2024
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- 4 MB
We receive a lot of queries about the need for our Pathway to 2030 projects. This document sets out some of the policies and targets driving the need for investment in new clean power and the electricity transmission network that is required to enable this. It also explains the electricity network planning processes that have established the need for these reinforcements.
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Pathway to 2030 - Tower Crossings - May 24.pdf
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- 13 May 2024
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- 5 MB
In this document you can learn more about the composition of our 400kV towers, and the approach we take when our overhead lines must cross existing assets.
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Delivering Legacy Benefits through Pathway to 2030 Projects - May 24.pdf
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- 13 May 2024
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- 6.9 MB
This document details how this investment programme will ensure a reliable supply of electricity, lead to thousands of jobs across the region, a programme of skills development ensuring a workforce fit for the future and place multi-million-pound contracts with the local supply chain benefitting local communities.
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Biodiversity Net Gain - Handout - April 24.pdf
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- 13 May 2024
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- 1.2 MB
We will always look to minimise the potential impacts from our activities and achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This document explains our approach and includes some examples of initiatives carried out at our sites.
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Delivering a Postive Environmental Legacy Booklet
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- Date:
- 12 February 2024
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- 5 MB
This booklet describes our approach to leaving a positive environmental legacy, including our marine biodiversity approach.
Fort Augustus 400kV Substation Consultation Documents
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Fort Augustus 400kV Substation February 2024 Feedback Event Booklet
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- Date:
- 19 February 2024
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- 16.2 MB
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Fort Augustus Feedback Event Poster February 2024
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- 06 February 2024
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- 475.5 KB
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Fort Augustus Consultation Document
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- Date:
- 20 November 2023
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- 1.9 MB
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Fort Augustus Consultation Event Poster November 2023
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- 16 November 2023
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- 189.4 KB
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Fort Augustus 400kV Substation November 2023 Public Consultation Booklet
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- Date:
- 16 November 2023
- Size:
- 16.6 MB
FAQs
Who we are
About the Pathway to 2030 projects
Our approach to routeing and public consultation
Environmental considerations
Communities and landowner considerations
Cost and engineering considerations
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Latest Links
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Report on Consultation
Our Reports on Consultation across our three new overhead line projects and associated substation and convertor station developments have now been published. These reports provide a summary of the extensive feedback received during consultation, how this has been considered and confirmation of which routes and substations are now being taken forward to the next stage of development.
Our Reports on Consultation are now available to download from the Project Documentation tab.
Summary Reports on Consultation are also available for each of the three schemes and can be downloaded below:
- Summary Report on Consultation Spittal to Beauly
- Summary Report on Consultation Beauly to Peterhead
- Summary Report on Consultation Kintore to Tealing
A stakeholder webinar available for all to join will be held in the coming weeks to share the changes informed by the feedback. More information about the forthcoming webinar will be shared on our events page shortly.
In further recognition of community feedback, we will seek to rationalise cumulative infrastructure impacts through the removal and undergrounding of existing transmission lines, where technically practical and appropriate, and subject to all necessary planning consents and landowner agreements.
Work to identify and assess potential sections of existing overhead line where their removal will reduce cumulative impacts is ongoing, with an update expected as part of the next round of public consultation on overhead line alignments and more detailed substation designs in early 2024.
We would once again like to thank all stakeholders who took the time to engage with our early consultation process. We will continue to engage with stakeholders ahead of consulting further with local communities and stakeholders in the new year, as we look to refine our proposals.
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Report on Consultation
Over the course of this year, we have undertaken extensive consultation on plans to upgrade the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland and have received a considerable amount of feedback from a wide range of stakeholders regarding our proposals.
We recently advised in our next steps for 2030 network developments update that following assessment of consultation feedback and additional options analysis, we would publish our Report on Consultations (RoCs). These reports provide a summary of the feedback received and how it has been considered, which options we will take forward to the next stage of the development process and any changes to options initially consulted on.
It is our intention to publish the RoCs during the week commencing 27 November. All stakeholders signed up for updates on the project will receive a link to the report and we will also issue Summary Reports to help ensure accessibility.
These Report on Consultations mark the completion of the first round of non-statutory consultation, where we sought feedback on the corridor, route, and substation locations. We will be consulting further with local communities and stakeholders in the new year, as we look to refine the projects, therefore we welcome an open channel of communication and would like to reassure all stakeholders that there will be further opportunities to engage on this project.
Our Reports on Consultation and Summary Reports on Consultation are now available to download from the Project Documentation tab. -
SSEN Transmission sets out next steps for Pathway to 2030 network developments
We have announced our next steps for our Pathway to 2030 programme of projects. We would like to thank everyone who has engaged with our teams and kindly taken the time to respond to our consultations.
Full details of the announcement can be found here:
Next steps for Pathway to 2030