Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) has constructed a new 400/275kV substation adjacent to the existing transmission line at New Deer, in the North East of Scotland.
The substation has been constructed to operate at a voltage of 275kV, with a view to being upgraded to operate at 400kV in the future. The transmission system in both the North East and East Coast of Scotland will be upgraded to 400kV over the next decade, in order to facilitate this, SSEN Transmission are proposing both upgrading the existing overhead line network in the region and installing new substations at various points.
These works are required to allow increased generation capacity access to the transmission system, while keeping the network fully operable and compliant with all necessary technical standards. Without these necessary reinforcements, the network cannot facilitate all generation connections.
Establishing the substation at New Deer addresses this issue and in effect increases the networks efficiency and capability. Power sharing across these circuits becomes more important as generation load increases on the system.
A selection of photographs documenting the project construction progress.
There is a significant amount of renewable energy scheduled to connect to the energy transmission network in the North East of Scotland over the next ten years. One of the key generators of this is the Moray Offshore East windfarm, a 900MW offshore windfarm situated in the Moray Firth, which was given consent by the Scottish Government in 2014
It has been determined that New Deer is the optimum location for Moray Offshore East to connect to the GB Transmission Network. To facilitate this connection, there will be two substations built at New Deer. One of which will be owned by Moray Offshore East directly, the other will be owned, operate and maintained by SSEN.
For further information on the Moray Offshore East project, please view their website at the following link - http://www.morayoffshore.com/moray-east/the-project/
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is the trading name of Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Limited, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc and Southern Electric Power Distribution plc.
Investments in projects are made by SHE Transmission plc. Electricity transmission companies are authorised to recover the costs of such investments through 'use of system' charges which are levied by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc on generators and suppliers of electricity. Suppliers recover their costs from all electricity customers. In order to protect the interests of customers, the transmission companies have to demonstrate to the energy regulator, Ofgem (Office for Gas and Electricity Markets) that proposed investments are necessary, are efficient and are economical so that the charges which are ultimately levied on all electricity customers are justified.
This means SHE Transmission is subject to a funding mechanism established by Parliament and regulated by Ofgem. Cross subsidies between different businesses in the SSE group is not permitted.
SHE Transmission are regulated by the Office for Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the regulator responsible for representing consumers' interests. Electricity consumer interests are therefore one of our key drivers and this is enshrined in our statutory duties under the Electricity Act.
In particular we have a statutory duty to develop, maintain and operate an efficient, economic and co-ordinated transmission system. Since the costs of these projects will ultimately be paid for by electricity consumers, we have a responsibility to take cost into account with due weighting in a comparison against other important factors.
It’s the highest voltage electricity network in the UK – the ‘motorway network’ of the energy world. It transmits large quantities of electricity over long distances via wires carried on a system of mainly metal towers (pylons) and large substations. Transmission voltages in Scotland are 132kV, 275kV and 400kV. Larger generation schemes usually connect to the Transmission system.
The lower voltage parts of the system are called distribution networks. In Scotland, these local networks operate below 132kV whereas in England the distribution network includes 132kV.
Related Projects: Alyth 275kV Substation & Reactive Compensation, East Coast 275kV OHL Upgrade, East Coast 400kV OHL Upgrade, Kintore 400kV Substation, North East 400kV, Peterhead Substation, New Deer Substation, Rothienorman Substation, Tealing Substation Extension
To keep informed of all that is happening on this project, please complete your details below and provide consent to enable us to send you updates via email
For information on how we collect and process your data, please see our privacy notice at www.ssen.co.uk/PrivacyNotice/. If you do not have access to our website, or would like to receive a hard copy, please contact us.
