Harris – Stornoway 132kV OHL

We have today published a new economic report setting out the significant economic benefits associated with our planned £29bn investment in new and upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure across the north of Scotland.

The report, titled ‘Re‑energising the North: Transforming Scotland’, provides an update on our previously outlined economic analysis on plans to invest billions in mission-critical grid infrastructure, providing further insight into the scale of economic opportunity associated with the investment programme.

The report reaffirms our programme as one of the largest private infrastructure investments in Scotland’s history, with around £29bn of planned investment across the north of Scotland in the next five years, and it details the extent of the economic opportunity across the region.

Using advanced economic modelling to analyse the impact of clean power infrastructure investment, the report’s findings conclude that our investment: 

• Will support up to 10,000 jobs in the north of Scotland, and 24,000 across Scotland; 
• When added to investment by other transmission operators and investment in generation will add around £60bn to UK economic output - with the Scottish economy up to 3% larger over the long term; 
• Will deliver long-term improvements in productivity, wages and economic resilience, with employees moving into higher-value roles and key sectors expanding permanently; and 
• Will create unique opportunities for Scottish suppliers, businesses and communities across multiple sectors, including forestry, peatland restoration, aggregates and concrete too. 

The findings highlight the importance of ensuring that the benefits of investment are felt locally, with thousands of skilled jobs, increased supply chain activity, and investment flowing into communities across the north of Scotland.

Read the full News and Views article to find out more.

A project to install a new overhead power line between Harris and Stornoway has achieved what is believed to be a UK first by using a specialised drone to install bond rope for conductor work in a single flight – accelerating construction while reducing environmental impact.

Video: watch the drone in operation on the Harris to Stornoway project here

Using a heavy-lift DJI FlyCart 30 Drone from heliguy™ (card image), combined with advanced systems from Aureos Energy Ltd, the method efficiently installs high-capacity pilot ropes which, once flown, are used to directly pull the conductor allowing for immediate installation.

This significantly reduces disruption to sensitive peatlands and protects fragile habitats on Lewis, while shortening installation time from days to hours. It also enhances safety by decreasing the number of personnel and vehicles required on challenging terrain.

Aureos, which is contracted to deliver the installation of a section of the line, has been working for some years on new and innovative ways to deliver work like this, particularly in challenging environments.

The initiative marks a key milestone in SSEN Transmission’s construction of the new 58 km, 132 kV overhead line between the Harris and Stornoway Grid Supply Points.  Thanks to the swift progress enabled by the drone deployment, half of the new line is set to be energised in the coming months, with full energisation due later this year. By replacing infrastructure dating from 1990, it will improve resilience and strengthen energy security across the Western Isles.

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.

The project received Section 37 Planning Consent in February 2024. 

We are currently working with CNeS to discharge the pre-construction planning conditions. 

Our two principal contractors Norpower for the Harris Substation to Aline Forest section and Keltbray Energy for north of Aline Forest to Stornoway Substation section, are setting up welfare / offices on the site.  

Poles, steelwork and other construction materials have started to be delivered to the island, ahead of construction commencing later this summer. 

SSEN Transmission has now submitted an application for consent under Section 37 of The Electricity Act 1989 for the Harris – Stornoway 132kV OHL - SSEN Transmission (ssen-transmission.co.uk) project. The project proposes the construction of an offline 132kV OHL wood pole trident line between the Harris Grid Supply Point and Stornoway Grid Supply Point, thus replacing the existing single pole trident design with an “H” Pole trident wood pole line.

The preference for the new route would be to follow that of the existing OHL. The new wood pole line will be strung with an All Aluminium Alloy Conductor (AAAC).

If you wish to view the Section 37 application online, they can be viewed via the Project Documents tab on the left-hand side of the project webpage.

You can also view the Section 37 application on the Energy Consents Unit’s website  https://www.energyconsents.scot/ The application reference is: ECU00004490.

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, 4^th 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.