Overview of North East Projects
The north east of Scotland has a key role to play to enabling the delivery of the UK and Scottish Governments renewable energy targets, by connecting new onshore and offshore renewable power. To take this power where it is needed, we are upgrading existing lines and, where required, building new overhead and subsea cable infrastructure. To be able to achieve the government’s targets this work will need to be completed by 2030, in line with our pathway to 2030 plans.
We have committed to deliver a new overhead line, reinforcement of the existing lines and new substations.
Beauly – New Deer – Peterhead 400kV Overhead Line
Network studies have been completed demonstrating the need for a new 400kV overhead line between Beauly and Peterhead and connecting into new substation sites at Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer and Peterhead along the way.
New Fanellan 400kV Substation and Converter Station
A new Beauly 400kV substation is needed for the connection of the Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV Overhead Line and the Beauly - Blackhillock - New Deer - Peterhead 400kV Overhead Line. This new substation will be located near to the existing Beauly Substation.
Removal of Coachford Substation from Beauly-Peterhead project scope
We announced in May of this year that following detailed ground investigation works which revealed technical challenges at the site, we will no longer be proceeding with the construction of the proposed substation at Coachford as part of the Beauly to Peterhead 400kV overhead line project.
Whilst the Coachford site is no longer being progressed, the wider Beauly-Peterhead 400kV project, and its initial objectives, remain on track for 2030 delivery. In June we held engagement events on the subsequent design changes to the proposed alignment in the Keith and Cairnie area, presenting what we now plan to take forward in our Section 37 consent application.
We aim to submit our consent application for the Proposed Development to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government in Autumn 2025. The application will be submitted in line with the requirements of Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.
New 400kV Greens Substation
To enable the new Beauly - New Deer - Peterhead 400kV overhead line, we will need to install a new 400kV substation near the existing 275/400kV New Deer substation in the area of Keith.
Netherton Hub
A second 400kV substation is required in the Peterhead area to support offshore and onshore electricity generation connections as well as onshore and offshore transmission infrastructure in the area.