Overview
Status: Construction Phase
About the Project
The An Suidhe Substation Project comprises the construction of a new 275kV substation and overhead line, which will connect into the recently completed 275kV overhead line between Inveraray and Crossaig.
The existing overhead line is capable of operation at 275kV, but is currently routed into the existing An Suidhe 132kV Substation, therefore the overhead line requires realignment to connect into the new substation. Associated access, drainage, fencing and landscaping are included in the project plans. The project will support the export of renewable energy from the Argyll area.
Find Out More About Inveraray - Crossaig 275kV Overhead Line
Why is the Project Required?
Due to the projected increase in renewable energy generation in Argyll, a need has been identified for the upgrade and reinforcement of the electricity transmission network on the Argyll peninsula, to ensure security of electricity supply and support the transition to Net Zero.
The replacement Inveraray - Crossaig Overhead Line has been completed at a higher voltage of 275kV. As increased renewable generation requires connection to the electricity network, and the operating voltage is required to increase to 275kV, four 132kV substations along the route need replacing to accommodate this.
Find Out More About Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Substations
Community Engagement
Throughout the life of our projects, we aim to work positively with local communities and keep people informed about what we are doing. This is particularly important when we are developing a proposal and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.
We endeavour to take the time to discuss proposals with local community councils, encourage engagement from the wider community and listen to the feedback we receive.
We will do our best to answer any questions and address issues or concerns that are raised with us.
When our project progresses into construction, we will continue working closely with the local community to ensure that our work has as little impact on the lives of those living and working in the area and as many long term positive effects as possible.
How we’re embracing artificial intelligence (AI)
We intend to use AI to assist our experienced teams in the analysis of your feedback, so we can categorise key points raised more quickly. You can learn more about how we’re utilising AI on this dedicated web page.
Project Updates
Featured updates
Featured updates for this project
Project updates
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Scheduled Blasting
As part of the associated construction works for this project our principal contractor Balfour Beatty will be undertaking a programme of rock blasting in the vicinity of the substation site.
The next scheduled blasting is due to take place on the following dates:
- Auchindrain Tuesday 08/07/2025 between 12:00 - 16:00 (Aiming for 12 noon ).
Please note these works will not impact the movements of the local community and while we expect any noise disruption to be minimal, we would like to apologise in advance for any caused due to the works. All works are 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.
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Project update - Project mobilisation
We are pleased to advise that we have now completed the forestry works at An Suidhe Substation and our principal contractor Balfour Beatty has mobilised to site with the construction activities to start shortly. If you have any queries relating to these works please contact our Community Liaison Manager caitlin.quinn@sse.com for more information. -
Site preparatory works commence at An Suidhe substation
We are pleased to advise that from November 2024 we will be beginning the first phase of site preparatory works at the new An Suidhe substation site. This will involve forrestry works and implementing site specific mitigation measures to protect the environment ahead of full site mobilisation from December 2024. If you have any queries relating to these works please contact our Community Liaison Manager - caitlin.quinn@sse.com for more information. -
Meet the Buyer Event - Thank you
On behalf our principal contractor Balfour Beatty, the SSEN Transmission project team would like to thank everyone who took the time to visit us at our public event event this week.
Over 30 businesses attended our meet the buyer event with others sending enquries via phone and email. This was really beneficial for us to understand all the local businesses that are available in the local area.
If anyone has any further questions regarding this event please email the community liaison manager for these projects.
Meet the Buyer Event
SSEN Transmission will soon begin construction on the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV substations.
As part of these projects and our ongoing commitment to ensure that where possible, opportunities are advertised locally in the first instance, we are welcoming local businesses to attend an informal drop-in meeting to engage with our principal contractors and to exchange details to discuss the possible opportunities for the local supply chain.
These projects have the potential to create local business and employment opportunities in the following fields: Accommodation, fencing, skip hire, catering, cleaning services, plant hire, general operations workers, groundworkers, electricians and more. We would encourage any relevant local businesses to attend these events and discuss what possible business opportunities there are with our principal contractors.
This drop in event will be held at the following date and location;
An Suidhe, Crarae, Craig Murrail substations:
Wednesday 24 January 2024, 2–6pm
Furnace Village Hall, Furnace,
Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8XN -
Argyll and Kintyre project - Final Needs Case consultation
The GB electricity regulator Ofgem has provisionally approved SSEN Transmission’s proposals to upgrade the electricity transmission network in Argyll and Kintyre.
In its minded-to approve consultation on SSEN Transmission’s Final Needs Case, Ofgem has recognised the clear need for the Argyll and Kintyre Reinforcement Strategy, which will secure future electricity supplies in the area and enable the connection of new renewable electricity generation in the region. It will support the connection of at least 970MW of new renewable electricity generation, enough to power more than 500,000 homes.
As well as supporting the transition to net zero emissions, the investment will also help secure the country’s future energy independence by removing the country’s dependence and price exposure to volatile, global wholesale gas markets, with the deployment of low carbon, affordable, renewable electricity generation.The project will also unlock hundreds of skilled jobs throughout the construction phase and provide a significant economic boost to local and national economies, all while playing a key role in supporting the transition to net zero emissions and helping secure the country’s future energy independence.
Ofgem’s minded-to decision and consultation on the Argyll and Kintyre Final Needs Case can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/argyll-and-kintyre-project-final-needs-case-consultation.
As a stakeholder led business SSEN Transmission would like to encourage all interested and relevant stakeholders to contribute to this important consultation before the closing date on 15th of September 2023. -
Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Substation Town and Country planning consent granted
We recently recieved town planning country planning consent for An Suidhe, Crarae, Craig Murrail and Crossaig North substations . We are currently still awaiting decision on our Section 37 applications for these projects from Scottish ministers. Once we receive notification of their outcome we will provide an update to public stakeholders and also publish this information and next steps on our project webpage. -
An Suidhe Town and Country Planning Application
A planning application has been submitted by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (operating and known as SSEN Transmission) for detailed planning permission under The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the Erection of High Voltage Electricity Substation and Formation of Associated Access, Landscaping, Drainage and Means of Enclosure (the An Suidhe Substation), approximately 4 km south west of Inveraray, Argyll and Bute.
The Proposed substation forms part of SSEN Transmission’s Argyll and Kintyre Strategy and is required to manage the transportation of renewable energy generation from Argyll to the wider electricity network. The substation would connect into the existing 275 kV Overhead Line (OHL) from Inveraray to Crossaig. An Environmental Appraisal (EA) has been carried out as a non-statutory assessment to allow appropriate environmental management and mitigation measures to be identified.
The relating documents for this application can be found on the project documents section of this webpage.Written comments may be made by e-mail: planning.hq@argyll-bute.gov.uk or Argyll and Bute Council, Development Management, Kilmory Castle, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8RT by 17.02.2023.
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An Suidhe update to SuDS design December 2022
The following chapter and annexes have been updated due to a redesign of the drainage system at the proposed substation. The updated docuements are available to be viewed and/or downloaded from the project documents section of this website.
Chapter 1 – Project description and Figure 1.1
Chapter 2 – Project description and Figure 2.2
Chapter 3 – Landscape and Visual Appraisal to take account of additional infrastructure
Chapter 5 – Forestry to account for changes to felling and replanting (landscape mitigation)
Annex E – Landscape Mitigation Plan to account for changes to replanting
Annex J – Drainage Impact Assessment to account for different SuDS system
Annex I – Forestry (Woodland Report) to account for changes to felling and replanting (landscape mitigation)
Annex N – Peat Management Plan to account for additional peat removal
Figures 1a, 1b and 2 have also been amended with a limit of deviation (LOD) to match the text in Chapter 2 of the Environmental Appraisal. -
An Suidhe substation section 37 planning application
SSEN Transmission have submitted an application to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to install and keep installed approximately 1.34 km of realigned 275kV overhead line supported on six new steel towers to connect the proposed An Suidhe substation via downleads to the existing 275kV Inveraray to Crossaig overhead line, approximately 4 km south west of Inveraray.
Any representations on the application may be submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot using reference ECU000004620. All representations should be made such that they are received by Scottish Ministers not later than 19th December 2022 although Scottish Ministers may consider representations received after this date. As a result of a statutory objection from the relevant planning authority, or where Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, Scottish Ministers can also cause a Public Inquiry (PI) to be held.
Should you wish to view the documents contained within our Section 37 application in full, these are available within the project documents section of this webpage. -
Argyll and Bute Information Sharing Webinar 2022
Please click to view our 2022 Argyll and Bute regional webinar where some of the SSEN team have given an overview of ongoing and upcoming projects across the area. -
Submission of our Initial Needs Case for the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Strategy
We have submitted to the energy regulator, Ofgem, robust proposals to reinforce the Argyll transmission network from 132kV to 275kV operation. At an estimated cost of around £400m, this investment is being taken forward as part of the SSE Group’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme, which will see £12.5bn invested in the five years to 2026, or £7m every day. SSEN Transmission alone expects to invest around £4bn over this period as it delivers a network for net zero emissions. The Argyll 275kV strategy is required to support the connection of several new renewable electricity generation schemes across Argyll and to transport that power to areas of demand across Scotland and beyond. It will support the connection of at least 560MW of new renewable electricity generation, enough to power more than 500,000 homes. -
Pre- Application Consultation Closed
Thank you to those who participated in our Winter 2021 online pre-application consultation and provided feedback on our proposals for the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Substations project. Our consultation period closed on 10th January and all feedback received will be collated, reviewed and included in the Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report which will accompany the Planning Applications submission to Argyll and Bute Council in Spring 2022. As part of our consultation we held a webinar on 14th December 2021, inviting statutory consultees, community council members and local elected members to discuss our proposals ahead of our planning application process. Please see a recording of the webinar adjacent for more information. -
Argyll and Bute Information Sharing Webinar
On Wednesday 17th March 2021, SSEN Transmission hosted an Argyll and Bute Information Sharing Webinar, to provide local stakeholders with an interest in future electricity network plans for Argyll and Bute the chance to join us to hear about our stakeholder-led plans for the future and receive an update on the current construction and operation activities in the region. For those who were unable to attend, we have uploaded a recording of the session which you can view by clicking on the adjacent video.
Documents
An Suidhe substation section 37
An Suidhe substation update to SuDS design December 2022
An Suidhe Town and Country Planning Application
FAQs
FAQs
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