Overview
Status: Early Development
Pre-application Public Events
New location for proposed switching station and overhead line changes
We invite all interested stakeholders to come along to the first-round of our pre-application drop-in public events where we will be presenting the proposed new location of the switching station and proposed changes to the 400kV overhead line alignment.
Our project team will be in attendance to discuss and listen to feedback on our proposals, ahead of further consultation later this year.
The events will be held on:
Wednesday 30 July 2025, 3-7pm at Glengarry Community Hall, Invergarry
and
Thursday 31 July 2025, 3-7pm at Fort Augustus Village Hall, Church Road, Fort Augustus.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact our Community Liaison Manager: Sally.cooper@sse.com / Tel: 07918 470281
Proposed Loch Lundie Substation – Consultation period now closed
Thank you to all stakeholders who submitted feedback and took the time to come along to our final statutory consultation feedback event on February 26th in Glengarry Community Hall for the proposed Loch Lundie substation project.
We hope you found the event useful and informative. We intend to submit the planning application late Spring early Summer. Further public events for the proposed Coire Glas Switching Station and overhead line will be planned once the design is further developed.
About the Project
We have received a Transmission Owner Agreement to connect the Coire Glas Pumped Hydro Scheme to our network for December 2027. The scheme will be the first large-scale pumped storage scheme to be developed in the UK for more than 30 years and has a potential capacity of up to 1500 Megawatts (MW), which supports the UK's drive towards Net Zero by 2050. A degree of rationalisation of the existing infrastructure will form part of these works.
The scheme is located southwest of Laggan Locks, near to Loch Lochy, Highland. The connection is for a total of 1296MW Export/1360MW Demand and will be carried out in two phases.
- Phase 1 will see the connection of 612MW Export/660MW Demand in December 2027
- Phase 2 will see the connection of a further 684MW Export/700MW Demand in October 2029
Phase 1 (connection December 2027)
- A new Coire Glas 400kV external Air Insulated Switching Station (AIS), this will include 2 control buildings
- Approximately 3.5km of 400kV overhead line - this will be installed from the proposed Coire Glas switching station to a new substation located in the vicinity of Loch Lundie
- A new 400/132kV substation in the vicinity of Loch Lundie - this will comprise a control building, 2 transformers and outdoor AIS equipment
- Approximately 8.5km of 400kV of overhead line - this will be between the proposed Loch Lundie substation to the existing Fort Augustus substation at Auchterawe
Phase 2 (connection October 2029)
There will be no further development work in the Fort Augustus area as part of this project. The works will include:
- The upgrade of the Beauly - Denny Overhead Line second circuit to 400kV operation
- Construction of the Eastern HVDC Peterhead – Drax link
Find Out More About Beauly - Denny 400kV Upgrade
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 project and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.
We endeavour to take the time to discuss our proposals with local community councils, Ward Councillors, and the wider affected community and to carry out engagement at key stages, listening to feedback before finalising project plans.
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.
To see the latest design update, please see the presentation slides which can be found in the Project Documents tab on this webpage.
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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Removal of Section 37 application - February 2025
We are reaching out to provide further updates on the Coire Glas Grid Connection Project.
We would like to notify you that the existing application for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 (ref: ECU00004736) will be withdrawn and a new Section 37 application will be submitted.
The existing application sought consent for the construction and operation of a 400kV overhead line and ancillary development from the proposed Coire Glas Switching Station to the proposed Loch Lundie Substation, and also from the proposed Loch Lundie Substation to the existing Fort Augustus Substation. The new application will include changes to the design of the project which will mitigate objections received in response to our original application.
Separate Town and Country Planning applications for the proposed Coire Glas Switching Station and Loch Lundie substation will also be expected to be submitted in 2025.
There will be a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report completed for the whole overhead line which will accompany the new Section 37 application. The EIA Report will assess the potential environmental impacts of the project and recommend mitigation measures to be implemented.
We shall be undertaking further Consultation Events describing the revisions and seeking feedback prior to formal submissions.
We will keep you informed and let you know when the application is available online for viewing, downloading documents and submitting comments.
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We're here to lend a helping hand
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.
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Public Consultation - November 2024
Thank you to those who attended our recent pre-application consultation event at Invergarry Community Hall for the proposed Loch Lundie substation on 27th November 2024.
If you were unable to attend the public event the material displayed is available to be viewed and downloaded from the Project Documents section of this project webpage.
Feedback can be submitted using the link at the top of this page, or by completing the feedback form in the consultation booklet or writing to the Community Liaison Manager, who`s details are at the bottom of this page. The feedback period closes on 8th January 2025.
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Public Consultation - November 2024
We are holding this new round of events to present the revised boundary area for the already proposed Loch Lundie substation and to gather your feedback on our proposals. We will be consulting separately on our proposed new location for the Coire Glas switching station in the New Year.
The event will be held on:
Date: 27 November 2024
Time: 3pm – 7pm
Venue: Glengarry Community Hall, InvergarryIf you are unable to attend the public event the material that will be on display will be available to be viewed and downloaded on the Project Documents section of this project webpage.
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Section 37
SSEN Transmission has now applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 for construction and operation of approximately 13 km of double circuit steel structure 400kV overhead between the consented Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme near Invergarry and the Fort Augustus Substation, in Auchterawe.
All documents that have been submitted as part of our Section 37 appication are available to be downloaded from the project documents section of this webpage or can be viewed via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00004736.
Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot/Register.aspx; 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 Energy Consents Unit receiving representations by post.
Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals), full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.
All representations should be received not later than Friday 9th June 2023, although Ministers may consider representations received after this date. -
Feedback Period Closed
SSEN Transmission would like to extend thanks to all members of the public, local stakeholders and other interested parties who took the time to provide feedback on our proposals for the Coire Glas Connection project following the consultation events held in May 2022. The feedback period is now closed. All responses received are being reviewed and assessed by the project team as the project design is taken forward. More consultation events will be held later in the year with the opportunity to provide further feedback. -
May 2022 - Feedback Period Is Open
The project team would like to extend thanks to all members of the public and interested parties who took the time to come along to our public consultation events that were held in Invergarry and Fort Augustus Halls on the 4th and 5th May and to those that visited our virtual online consultation and submitted questions to the team via the live text chat function on the 9th May. We hope you found the consultations informative and beneficial. If you were unable to join any of the events, all the content that was presented on our proposals can be found within the project documentation tab of this website. We encourage those with an interest to share their views and feedback on our proposals by completing a feedback form which is on the project documentation tab. The feedback period is open until 20th June 2022.
Documents
PAC 1 Consultation for Coire Glas Switching Station (new location) and Coire Glas 400kV overhead line
Final Pre-Application Feedback Consultation Events Documents
Loch Lundie Substation Consultation Documents
Section 37 documents
Section 37 non technical summary
Section 37 volume 1 main report
Section 37 volume 2 figures
Section 37 volume 3a Nature Scot standard visualisations
Section 37 volume 3b The Highland Council standard visualisations
Section 37 volume 4 technical appendices
Project documents
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Coire-Glas-Connection-Project-Consultation-Booklet-July 23.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 27 July 2023
- Size:
- 26.6 MB
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Coire Glas A5 Mailer-July23.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 27 July 2023
- Size:
- 252.4 KB
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Coire Glas A4 Poster-July23.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 27 July 2023
- Size:
- 230.3 KB
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Report on Consultation
- Type:
- Date:
- 27 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.4 MB
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Coire Glas A4 Poster
- Type:
- Date:
- 14 April 2023
- Size:
- 168.3 KB
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Coire Glas Connection Project Consultation Booklet
- Type:
- Date:
- 14 April 2023
- Size:
- 18.3 MB
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Coire Glas Connection Presentation January 2022
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 1.7 MB
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Coire Glas Connection Project Consultation May 2022
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 970.4 KB
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Coire Glas Grid Project Consultation Appendices
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 4.6 MB
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Coire Glas Grid Project Consultation Figures
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 34.1 MB
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Corie Glas Connection Project Consultation Booklet May 2022
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 4 MB
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Fig 5 Preferred Alignment
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 2.2 MB
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Figure 131 Viewpoint Auchterawe Road At Torr Dhuin
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 6.3 MB
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Figure 2a Coire Glas Grid Connection Indicative Route and Substation Options
- Type:
- Date:
- 16 September 2022
- Size:
- 2.6 MB
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