Creag Dhubh Substation

Construction works will pause for the 2025 festive period with sites closing from 19 December 2025 until 5 January 2026. Although the sites will be closed for all construction workers during this period security will remain in place.  

We wish our local communities a safe and happy festive break. 

We’re preparing for the delivery of two large transformers to the Creag Dhubh substation site. These key pieces of equipment will arrive by ship into Clydebank and then be transported by road to the site.

Due to their exceptional size and weight, the deliveries will temporarily impact traffic on several routes, including the A82 and surrounding roads. We’re working closely with our delivery partners and Police Scotland to carefully plan the timing of these movements to minimise disruption and prioritise public safety.

At present, we expect the deliveries to take place towards the end of November/start of December. We will share confirmed dates and further details as soon as they are available.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we carry out this essential work.

As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the local community informed, we’re sharing the latest developments at the Creag Dhubh Substation site:

Upcoming Resurfacing Works

Further resurfacing works are scheduled for November at the entrance to our site. These works will be carried out by Argyll & Bute Council, and traffic management measures will be in place to ensure safety and minimise disruption.

Super Grid Transformer Deliveries

Over the coming months, our Super Grid Transformers will be delivered to site. These deliveries will require local road closures, which will be managed by our logistics partners Allelys and Hitachi. We will share further details on timings and routes via this page and our social media platforms, so please keep an eye out for updates.

Progress Within Substation Buildings

Works continue within both the 132kV and 275kV buildings in preparation for the installation of switchgear, as well as electrical containment and cabling. These activities are key milestones in the build-up to energisation and commissioning phases.

We appreciate the continued support and patience of the local community as we progress with this critical infrastructure project, which will help strengthen the electricity transmission network and support the integration of renewable energy across the region.

We would like to update stakeholders that works on both 132kV and 275kV GIS Buildings are currently undergoing with the internal fit out taking place.

Traffic management is a priority just now as the upgrade works to the Bellmouth commences. A traffic convoy system will be used to help manage the flow of traffic whilst these works take place. We want to thank members of the community for their patience during this time and assure them that these works aren’t expected to last any longer than two weeks and should have minimal impact on the local community.  

We are proud sponsors of the Dalmally village show this year and we will be taking a stand at the event. We look forward to meeting members of the public and providing them with information on this project and our other projects in Argyll. 

If you have any questions regarding these activities, please do not hesitate to contact the project community liaison manager - caitlin.marini@sse.com

We are pleased to update stakeholders that both 132kV and 275kV GIS Buildings are fully erected and have now commenced internal fit out works.

Concrete foundations are now in progress for the various pieces of equipment that surround the substation buildings before steelwork erection commences later this year.  Works on the entrance to the site which adjoins the A819 are currently forecast for July 2025 will involve traffic management but works are not expected to last any longer than two weeks and should have minimal impact on the local community.  

As you pass the site you may also see that the workers accommodation area has been put into place.  This is to reduce the impact on local hotels and ensure that our workforce doesn't limit available rooms for local tourism.

If you have any questions regarding these activities, please do not hesitate to contact the project community liaison manager - caitlin.quinn@sse.com

We are pleased to update stakeholders that the project has concluded the groundworks on site with our principal contractor Siemens BAM and are now progressing with the steel frames for the GIS buildings. These buildings will support both 132kV and 275kV overhead lines. We hope to have these buildings erected by summer 2025. 

These works will not impact the movements of the local community and all works are being undertaken in line with industry best practice, however, if you have any concerns on these activities, please do not hesitate to contact the project community liaison manager. 

We are committed to supporting the communities in the north of Scotland where we operate, both now and in the future. As part of our ongoing efforts to make a difference and have a positive impact on local communities, we are proud to offer volunteering days to local groups and charities, particularly in the areas that host our electricity infrastructure or where our proposed projects are located. 

This month, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Volunteering Webpage, designed to make it easier for local communities to request volunteering support from us. To request our help, simply complete the ‘Volunteering Nomination Form’ linked at the bottom of our new webpage. Please note, as our team works on a voluntary basis, it may take us some time to coordinate our people and match them with opportunities. We kindly ask for your patience as we work to keep up with volunteering demand.

Thank you for considering SSEN Transmission as a partner in your community efforts. Together, we can leave a positive, lasting legacy and help transform communities across the north of Scotland.

SSEN Transmission have received the news that the Inveraray to Taynuilt overhead line tie-in to Creag Dhubh Substation has been granted consent – meaning the full Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Reinforcement project has now been given approval to proceed.   

This application was submitted in February 2023 to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit, meaning it's taken close to two years for them to reach a decision.  The project involves constructing a tie-in connection to Creag Dhubh Substation from the existing 132kV Inveraray to Taynuilt overhead line.  This involves building two sections of overhead line to connect a circuit to the new substation at Creag Dhubh, which is currently under construction. 

This is the final major consent associated with the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Reinforcement Project. These works are required to enable the transportation of renewable energy generation from the Argyll peninsula to the wider electricity network and to provide network security in the area. It involves a series of projects to upgrade the capacity of the main transmission network across the region from 132kV to 275kV, with these upgrades crucial in enabling the growth in renewable energy across Argyll and ensuring security of the electricity supply in the region.

SSEN Transmission would like to update residents who live close to our construction site where we are currently undertaking works to erect Creag Dhubh Substation project that Siemens BAM from 4^th September 2024 will be undertaking a programme of blasting in the vicinity of the substation site, these activities will last for approximately ten weeks.

These works will not impact the movements of the local community and all works are being undertaken in line with industry best practice, however, if you have any concerns on these activities, please do not hesitate to contact the project community liaison manager. 

Felling works on Creag Dhubh Substation are to begin week commencing 29/01/24.These works will consist of of the following;  

Timber Harvesting

Mulching 

De-stumping by mulching to ground level of all stumps. 

Small-scale motor-manual felling, chipping and timber extraction. 

Small-scale arboricultural works

The total area of felling that will be completed for this project;

Substation & Temporay works area to be felled =5.93 ha

Management Felling to be felled = 3.55 ha

If you have any questions regarding this update please get in touch with the project community liaison manager

The proposed Inveraray to Taynuilt (ITE/ITW) Tie-in Connection to Creag Dhubh Substation.  This project involves connecting a short section of the existing 132kV Taynuilt to Inveraray OHL to the consented Creag Dhubh Substation. To ensure supply of electricity on this part of the network, whilst the tie-in works are completed, a temporary diversion comprising wood poles would be installed and then removed, following the completion of the Tie-in.

SSEN Transmission has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to install and keep installed approximately 307m of 132kV overhead line supported on steel towers and to install approximately 743m temporary diversion from the existing 132kV Taynuilt to Inveraray overhead line between existing Tower 34 to Tower 37 located approximately 2.5 km south west of Cladich, Argyll and Bute.

The relating documents for this application are available to view and can be accessed via the project documents section of this webpage.

Copies of the application may be obtained by contacting the community Liason Manager. A fee will be charged for hard copies and copies by CD/DVD or Pen Drive are also available free of charge. A copy of the press advert and map of the proposal has been placed locally that you are able to view at; Dalmally Village Store, Glenview, Dalmally, PA33 1BE. The Opening hours are Monday- Saturday 8am – 5pm.

Any representations on the application may be submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot using reference ECU00004737, by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Please note that there may be a delay in the ECU receiving representations by post.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations. Emailed representations should also include the full return email address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement. Please note that the application reference number must be clearly stated in the representation.

All representations should be made such that they are received by Scottish Ministers no later than 8^th May 2023 although Scottish Ministers may consider representations received after this date.