Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Substations

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 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 informal drop-in meetings 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.

These drop events will be held at the following dates and locations;

An Suidhe, Crarae, Craig Murrail substations:

Wednesday 24 January 2024, 2–6pm
Furnace Village Hall, Furnace,
Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8XN

Crossaig North Substation

Thursday 15 February 2024, 2–6pm
Carradale Village Hall, Carradale, PA28 6QG

Creag Dhubh Substation 

Wednesday 6 March 2024, 2–6pm
Dalmally Village Hall, 31 Glenview,
Dalmally PA33 1AX

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 15^th of September 2023.

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 Craig Murrail Substation), approximately 2.5 km north east of Lochgilphead and 2.9 km south west of Loch Glashan, 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.

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 Crossaig North Substation) and an Extension to the Platform at the existing Crossaig substation, at land adjacent to the existing Crossaig Substation, approximately 8 km southwest of the village of Claonaig and approximately 6 km north of Grogport, 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.

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. These can also be viewed on the Scottish Government Energy Consents website at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00004763.Any representations on the application may be submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot 

All representations should be made such that they are received by Scottish Ministers not later than 24^th April 2023, 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.

The following chapters and annexes have been updated due to a redesign of the drainage system, landscape mitigation plan and access track layout at the proposed substation. In addition, the noise assessment has been updated to take account of revised noise emission data:

• 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 4 – Removal of reference to replanting on site
• Chapter 5 – Forestry to account for changes to felling and replanting (landscape mitigation)
• Chapter 8 – Update to project description and noise emission data for proposed plant
• Chapter 10 – Removal of reference to replanting on site

• Annex E – Landscape Mitigation Plan to account for changes to replanting
• Annex J – Forestry (Woodland Report) to account for changes to felling and replanting (landscape mitigation)
• Annex K – Drainage Impact Assessment to account for different SuDS system
• Annex O – Peat Management Plan to account for additional peat removal
• Annex P – Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessment with new track layout
• Annex S – Updated plant noise spectrum and modelling plots

Also attached are Figures 1a, 1b and 2 which have the updated limit of deviation (LOD) to match the text in Chapter 2 of the Environmental Appraisal.

The following chapters and annexes of the Environmental Appraisal have been updated:

• Chapter 8 – Updated noise emission data for proposed plant – no material change to outcome of assessment
• Chapter 10 – To remove reference to replanting at the site (site to be reinstated as bog/mire habitat)
• Annex S – Updated plant noise spectrum and modelling plots

Figures 1b and 2 have also been amended with some minor changes to the proposed temporary access track layout in the vicinity of the existing substation.

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.

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 Crarae Substation), approximately 1.6km north west of Minard, 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. 

If you wish to view the documents relating to this submission you can do so by clicking 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 24.02.2023.

SSEN Transmission have submitted their application for consent to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 1989 to install and keep installed approximately 45m of 275 kV overhead line supported on two new steel towers to connect the proposed 275 kV Crarae Substation via downleads to the existing 275kV Inveraray to Crossaig overhead line and to install and keep installed approximately 285m of realigned 275kV overhead line supported with one new steel tower  in the vicinity of the existing 132 kV Crarae Substation. Temporary overhead line diversions with three towers  and temporary overhead line diversions with two towers or masts for a period of no more than three years will also be required, approximately 1.6 km north west of Minard in the Argyll and Bute local authority area.

Any representations on the application may be submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot using reference ECU00004664. All representations should be made such that they are received by Scottish Ministers not later than 30th January 2023 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.