EXPLAINED: Why have ambitious renewable energy targets been accelerated – and what does that mean for SSEN's mega power line project in the Highlands?
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Community campaigns have been mobilised across the region against the reinforcement of a power distribution network cutting through the heart of the Highlands.
Concerns about a lack of consultation, piecemeal planning and the long-term impact of infrastructure – including overhead power lines and substantial new substations – on the visitor-dependent Highlands have all being voiced vehemently.
Many believe the Highlands is being asked to pay too great a price to benefit distant markets elsewhere. The scars on the landscape will last generations and we may not even have the full picture yet, they say.
The proposed Spittal to Loch Buidhe to Beauly route has already become a battlefield – and it's only one part of a wider picture.
In short, the whole thing is a hot potato.
The company absorbing much of the flack at present is SSEN Transmission, responsible for maintaining and investing in the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland.
Why are these projects needed?
To deliver UK and Scottish Government net zero and energy security targets.
The ScotWind leasing round delivered seabed leases for up to 28GW, vastly exceeding expectations (of 10GW).
The British Energy Security Strategy has 50GW 2030 offshore wind targets (UK target), including the current 11GW Scottish Government target. The goal is to accelerate net zero to deliver homegrown, low-carbon, affordable energy independence.
The National Grid led Holistic Network Design (HND) will enable around 11GW of ScotWind by 2030, key to delivering 50GW by 2030.
The so-called pathway to 2030 investments are:
1. Beauly to Loch Buidhe to Spittal 400kV reinforcement.
2. Beauly to Blackhillock to New Deer to Peterhead 400kV reinforcement.
3. Beauly to Denny 400kV uprating (with SPT)
4. Kintore to Tealing (with connections to Alyth) to Westfield 400kV (with SPT/ SP Transmission)
5. Spittal to Peterhead 2GW HVDC (high voltage direct current electricty) subsea link
6. Peterhead to Drax 2GW HVDC subsea link - Eastern Green Link 2 (with NGET/National Grid Electricity Transmission)
7. Peterhead to South Humber 2GW HVDC link - Eastern Green Link 4 (with NGET)
8. Western Isles 1.8GW HCDC link
So the reinforcement under consideration is part of a GB-wide programme of works to deliver Government targets – and privately some within SSEN feel they're between a rock and a hard place in meeting accelerated targets and trying to bring the public with them.
The accelerated timetable is seen as essential to support the continued growth in onshore and offshore renewables across the north of Scotland.
Spittal to Beauly has been identified as a critical corridor in establishing this required reinforcement, connecting into new substation sites at Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly along the way. And those substations are very substantial pieces of kit, as those who have attended consultation drop-ins will attest.
Network studies have been completed demonstrating the need for a new 400kV connection between these sites. National Grid – responsible for making sure electricity is transported safely and efficiently from where it's produced to where it's needed – agrees the need for the reinforcement of the network.
There is a clear expectation from Government and the energy regulatory, Ofgem, that these projects will be delivered by 2030.
The projects aim to deliver the 2030 renewable targets and follow the publication in April 2022 of the UK Government’s so-called British Energy Security Strategy (BESS).
It set out the UK Government’s plans to secure the country’s future energy independence by removing the dependence on, and price exposure to, volatile global wholesale gas markets. Consumers have become painfully aware of the impact of that volatility in recent times.
This target will be achieved by accelerating the deployment of homegrown and affordable low carbon electricity generation, together with accelerating the enabling electricity network infrastructure required to connect and transport this power.
The BESS included an increased ambition for offshore wind of 50GW by 2030, up from the previous target of 40GW.
To enable the connection of that 50GW of offshore wind by the 2030 target, the GB Electricity System Operator (the ESO), working in collaboration with the three GB Transmission Owners, developed what is known as the Holistic Network Design (the HND).
That sets out the onshore and electricity transmission infrastructure required across Great Britain to deliver this UK Government target.
SSEN says that as well as helping achieve UK and Scottish Government 2030 targets, deliver a pathway to net zero and secure the country’s future energy independence, these reinforcements "will also collectively support the creation of significant numbers of jobs across Scotland and the UK, as well as providing significant economic value across the country".
The major national infrastructure needed by 2030 requires an acceleration of the project development and delivery phases and for SSEN and others involved, the clock is ticking. Yet it still says it is fully committed to working closely with the local community and wider stakeholders to help inform its design.
It says that despite the timetable set out for it, "no parts of our established project development process will be missed".
The Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV reinforcement project "remains in the early stages of development".
SSEN says that to support the accelerated project development required to deliver this reinforcement, it has adopted sophisticated software to help narrow down potential viable routes, "allowing us to consider a wide range of factors, including the proximity to homes, villages, and towns; historical landmarks, features and landscapes; and the many environmental designations along its route".
The outcome of that analysis was further assessed and validated by desk and field-based studies, which, it says, established a shortlist of the most viable options, as presented at its consultation events and public materials.
It promises that ongoing analysis "will continue throughout the development phase".
In the same way, the new substations and HVDC converter stations are also the subject of consultation and at the early stages of development. It says: "We have to date consulted on our preferred sites based on short lists of options, which have been narrowed down following environmental and technical engineering assessments."
The process of designing the actual route alignment of the new overhead line will take place over the course of the next eight to 10 months "as more detailed information becomes available". That process, it says, will reflect a range of factors, including feedback to the consultation and ongoing dialogue, "all of which we are fully committed to consider".
How does it work and what are the challenges?
SSEN's network extends over a quarter of the UK’s land mass crossing some of its most challenging terrain.
It says its first priority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of electricity to its communities.It does this by taking the electricity from generators and transporting it at high voltages over long distances through its transmission network for onwards distribution to homes and businesses in villages, towns and cities.
It says: "Our operating area is home to vast renewable energy resources, and this is being harnessed by wind, hydro and marine generation. Working closely with National Grid, we enable electricity generators to connect to the transmission system, allowing the electricity generated by them to be transported to areas of demand across the country."
It says that as a natural monopoly, it is closely regulated by the energy regulator, Ofgem, which determines how much revenue it is allowed to earn for constructing, maintaining and renovating its transmission network in the north of Scotland. These costs are shared between all those using the transmission system, including generation developers and electricity consumers.
SSEN says that all new reinforcements "remain subject to detailed consultation and environmental assessments to help inform route and technology options".
SSEN is under fire over the consultation process with claims communities have been left in the dark about the bigger picture and concerns that only lip-service is being paid and key decisions already taken because of the tight timescale involved.
SSEN in turn says early engagement involved meetings offered to elected members and initial discussion with statutory consultees.
It says it has a continuous engagement process which includes analysis of feedback, follow-ups with stakeholders and the establishment of working groups.
It says its process will continue with alignment consultation and "targeted engagement with those most affected".
There will also be a pre-submission information sharing event.
It says that work under way based on community feedback includes reviewing current proposals to take consideration of concerns raised at consultation in respect of potential routes identified and consideration of potential alternative routes or route amendments.
It is also looking at "the potential to reduce the amount of existing overhead lines".
And on one of the big talking points from consultation, it promises to "assess the potential for alternative technologies to be used, for example, underground cables or alternative tower designs".
On the thorny issue of how options are assessed, SSEN says key development considerations can be broken down into categories which include 'environment and people', 'engineering' and 'cost'.
In the first category are concerns such as proximity to dwellings, designed sites and protected species and landscape and visual impact.
Engineering concerns include issues such as elevation, flooding, access and health and safety operability for workers.
It says that more detail on these projects and information on how to sign up for updates can be found on its website at www.ssen-transmission.co.uk
