Replacement of electricity transmission line
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL), a subsidiary of SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc), has completed its initial analysis of the conditions associated with the consents granted by Scottish Ministers on 6 January 2010 to install a 400kV overhead electricity transmission line to replace an existing 132kV overhead transmission line between Beauly and Denny.
Ministers stated on 6 January that they agreed with the Beauly-Denny public inquiry reporters’ recognition of the ‘pressing need’ to reinforce the electricity network. They also stated on 20 January that, subject to SHETL’s and SP Transmission’s proposals, they do not anticipate any additional delays to the upgrade as a result of the conditions. SHETL has concluded it should be able to undertake preliminary construction works this year, with a further four summers of construction work required to complete the new line.
Conditions associated with the consents to build the new line include the requirement to remove a total of 109km of existing overhead transmission line, supported by pylons, in the Highland and Perth and Kinross areas, in addition to the existing 220km Beauly-Denny overhead line being removed. This means:
- Removing three sections of 132kV overhead transmission line, totalling 6km, around Beauly and replacing them with underground cables;
- Removing altogether 53km of 132kV overhead transmission line between Boat of Garten and Cairnmore in the Cairngorm National Park;
- Removing 40km of 132kV overhead transmission line between Etteridge and Boat of Garten in the Cairngorm National Park and replacing it with 33kV overhead lines supported by wooden poles, or underground cables; and
- Removing sections of 132kV overhead transmission line around Whitebridge and around Amulree, totalling 10km, and replacing them with underground cables.
The new 400kV overhead line between Beauly and Denny will not pass through any of Scotland’s designated National Scenic Areas, through what the public inquiry report described as ‘sensitive’ routeing. As a result, for example, the section of the Beauly-Denny line passing through the Cairngorm National Park will be reduced in length, from 35km at present to 28km, and will be much closer to the western boundary of the Park. This 7km reduction is in addition to the requirements to remove other overhead transmission lines from the Park as summarised above. SSE has prepared a map which illustrates this.
Other conditions associated with the consent cover issues such as species, habitats, forestry, geology, watercourses and construction. The first meetings of the Environmental Liaison Group and the Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Community Liaison Group, both specified in the conditions announced on 6 January, took place on 27 January.
Colin Hood, Chief Operating Officer of SSE, said:
“In granting consent for a new overhead line between Beauly and Denny, Scottish Ministers imposed very substantial conditions. While the new line, like its predecessor, will be overhead, these conditions mean there will be a net reduction of over 100km of pylon lines in highland Scotland as a result of the Beauly-Denny upgrade.
“The conditions will require significant technical, engineering and environmental resources and will cost tens of millions of pounds. We are aiming to make good progress in satisfying Scottish Ministers with regard to them, we have already started consulting with key stakeholders and we are planning to start preliminary construction works this year.”
