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Transmission firm says the project is needed to accommodate increase in renewable energy in the country
Teams from SSEN Transmission are inviting members of the public to share their views on proposals to install a new substation near Braco, Scotland to accommodate an increase in new renewable energy generation across the country.
The new substation will be located close to the existing 275kV substation known as Braco West, and will connect into the existing Beauly-Denny overhead line.
The development forms part of a project to upgrade the second circuit of the Beauly-Denny overhead line from 275kV to 400kV to accommodate renewable energy projects.
The wire is 137 miles long and runs from Beauly, north of Inverness, to Denny near Falkirk.
It was the first 400kV overhead line built in SSEN Transmission’s network area and became fully operational in 2015.
There are two circuits on the overhead wire, one on either side of the steel lattice towers.
The line was constructed for operation at 400kV, with one circuit operating at 400kV and the second at 275kV.
Due to increasing amounts of renewable electricity generation connecting to the transmission system, there is now a need to uprate the second circuit from 275kV to 400kV, SSEN said.
To uprate this second circuit to 400kV there is a requirement to build two new substations, one located near Braco and the other in Fasnakyle near Cannich in the Highlands, as well as upgrading the existing Fort Augustus substation, it added.
SSEN Transmission is hosting a public consultation event on Tuesday 22 August to share more information and invite feedback on potential locations for the new Braco West substation.
The in-person event will take place at Braco Hall between 3.30pm and 7.30pm, and will be hosted by the project team.
SSEN Transmission project manager Conal Brown said: "The new substation at Braco West forms a key component in our Beauly-Denny 400kV project, which in turn is part of a GB wide programme of upgrades to our critical national electricity transmission network infrastructure.
"These upgrades are key to help achieve UK and Scottish Government 2030 climate change targets, helping to deliver a pathway to Net Zero and secure the country’s future energy independence.
"We have carried out extensive studies to determine our initial proposals so far, and we are now seeking feedback from stakeholders for the proposed new substation at Braco West as part of the wider Beauly-Denny 400kV upgrade project.
"This feedback will then be used to help inform our designs as we further develop the project.
"As a stakeholder-led business, we will be working closely with the local community and wider stakeholders to help inform the ongoing development of this substation at Braco West and encourage anyone with an interest in our proposals to visit us at our Braco consultation event to share their views, which will be carefully considered as we further refine our plans." |
