Overview
About the Project
In order to support the continued growth in onshore and offshore renewables across the north of Scotland, supporting the country's drive towards Net Zero, investment in network infrastructure is needed to connect this renewable power and transport it from source to areas of demand across the country.
Extensive studies have confirmed the need to reinforce the onshore transmission infrastructure between Spittal and Beauly, and the need for a subsea cable between Spittal and Peterhead. To enable these reinforcements, a new 400kV substation is required in Spittal and will connect to:
- A new 400kV connection between Spittal and Beauly
- A new Spittal HVDC Converter Station
- The existing Spittal 275kV Substation
Find Out More About Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV Connection
This video outlines how the project contributes to our role in delivering Net Zero.
3D Visualisations Portal
To help provide an indication of what the substation and HVDC converter station may look like within the local environment, we've created a 3D visualisation portal. The portal can be accessed via the following link, where you can view various viewpoints from around the proximity of the site as well as a flythrough video.
Visit the 3D visualisations portal
Pathway to 2030
The Pathway to 2030, published by National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Great Britain, sets the blueprint for the electricity transmission network infrastructure required to enable the forecasted growth in renewable electricity across Great Britain.
The projects identified within the Pathway to 2030 are critical to delivering the UK and Scottish Government’s offshore wind targets. To deliver these targets, we are investing over £10bn to upgrade the network infrastructure across the north of Scotland as the region plays a leading role in the clean energy transition.
As part of this investment, there is a requirement for a new 400kV substation in Spittal.
Stakeholder Engagement
The New Spittal 400kV Substation Project is currently in the development stages and is subject to extensive consultation with stakeholders. In this video, Rebecca Gay, Project Manager for the overhead line project, and Community Liaison Manager, Martin Godwin, describe the approach we are taking in developing our proposals and the opportunities that are available for stakeholders to feed into the design process.
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
Project updates
Project Documents
Pre-Application Consultation - March 2024
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Banniskirk Hub mailer.pdf
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- Date:
- 26 February 2024
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- 652.1 KB
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Banniskirk Hub PAC booklet - March 2024.pdf
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- Date:
- 26 February 2024
- Size:
- 8.4 MB
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Banniskirk Hub PAN boundary.pdf
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- Date:
- 26 February 2024
- Size:
- 2.4 MB
Report on Consultation
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Summary ROC - Spittal to Beauly.pdf
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- Date:
- 01 December 2023
- Size:
- 4.8 MB
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Report on Consultation - New Spittal Area 400kV Substation and HVDC Converter Station.pdf
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- Date:
- 01 December 2023
- Size:
- 1.5 MB
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RoC - New Spittal Area 400kV Substation - Figure 1 - Site Selection Options.pdf
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- Date:
- 01 December 2023
- Size:
- 6.7 MB
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RoC - New Spittal Area 400kV Substation - Figure 2 - Spittal Proposed Substation and HVDC Converter Station Site.pdf
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- Date:
- 01 December 2023
- Size:
- 4.1 MB
Pathway to 2030 Projects - Additional Information
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Why the Pathway to 2030 projects require both onshore and offshore solutions.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 2.5 MB
We are regularly asked why our Pathway to 2030 transmission network upgrades cannot all be delivered offshore via subsea links. This document explains some of the many factors that drive the need for both onshore and offshore solutions.
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Working with landowners and occupiers - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 8.2 MB
We recognise landowners and occupiers as key stakeholders in the development of our projects. This document details what happens if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached, concerns about impact on properties, following legal frameworks, biosecurity, and irrigation.
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The Section 37 Consent Process - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 1.7 MB
The legislation governing the consenting of overhead line projects in Scotland is the Electricity Act 1989. Applications for consent to construct and operate new overhead lines are made under Section 37 of this Act and are referred to as “Section 37 Consents”. You can find out more about this process in this document.
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Protecting Private Water Supplies - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 7.2 MB
Construction works and site investigation have the potential to impact on private water supplies (PWS) and we know that this can be a concern to occupants. This document outlines the activities we undertake to identify and protect PWS.
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Pathway to 2030- Why are these projects needed - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
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- 4 MB
We receive a lot of queries about the need for our Pathway to 2030 projects. This document sets out some of the policies and targets driving the need for investment in new clean power and the electricity transmission network that is required to enable this. It also explains the electricity network planning processes that have established the need for these reinforcements.
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Pathway to 2030 - Tower Crossings - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 5 MB
In this document you can learn more about the composition of our 400kV towers, and the approach we take when our overhead lines must cross existing assets.
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Pathway to 2030 - Considering EMFs - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 18.4 MB
This document contains diagrams indicating at which distances from overhead lines magnetic and electric fields dissipate and describes how safety measures will be applied to our 400kV overhead line infrastructure, protecting us all against EMF exposure.
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Delivering Legacy Benefits through Pathway to 2030 Projects - May 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 6.9 MB
This document details how this investment programme will ensure a reliable supply of electricity, lead to thousands of jobs across the region, a programme of skills development ensuring a workforce fit for the future and place multi-million-pound contracts with the local supply chain benefitting local communities.
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Biodiversity Net Gain - Handout - April 24.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 May 2024
- Size:
- 1.2 MB
We will always look to minimise the potential impacts from our activities and achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This document explains our approach and includes some examples of initiatives carried out at our sites.
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The challenges with undergrounding at 400kV
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- Date:
- 18 March 2024
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- 424.8 KB
This document explores some of the technical and engineering, operational, environmental and economic challenges associated with underground cabling at 400kV, alongside wider network development and operational considerations.
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Delivering a Postive Environmental Legacy Booklet
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- Date:
- 12 February 2024
- Size:
- 5 MB
This booklet describes our approach to leaving a positive environmental legacy, including our marine biodiversity approach.
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Report on Consultation - Community Council Briefing Slides - SLBB.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 December 2023
- Size:
- 3 MB
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Spittal 400kV Substation Hub_Site Selection_Consultation Document Aug 2023.pdf
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- Date:
- 05 October 2023
- Size:
- 10.1 MB
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Consultation Report - Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly - July 23.pdf
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- Date:
- 13 July 2023
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- 1.3 MB
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Consultation response May 2023.pdf
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- Date:
- 17 May 2023
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- 166.2 KB
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Spittal-Loch Buidhe-Beauly initial consultation feedback response 28.03.23.pdf
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- Date:
- 28 March 2023
- Size:
- 199.9 KB
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Spittal Consultation Substation Options Map Feb-March 23.pdf
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- Date:
- 27 February 2023
- Size:
- 6.7 MB
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Consultation Booklet (Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV).pdf
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- Date:
- 17 February 2023
- Size:
- 67.3 MB
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Public Consultation Poster - Feb/March 2023
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- Date:
- 06 February 2023
- Size:
- 101 KB
Project FAQs
Who we are
About the Pathway to 2030 projects
Our approach to routeing and public consultation
Environmental considerations
Communities and landowner considerations
Cost and engineering considerations
Register for Project Updates
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Latest Links
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Report on Consultation
Our Reports on Consultation across our three new overhead line projects and associated substation and convertor station developments have now been published. These reports provide a summary of the extensive feedback received during consultation, how this has been considered and confirmation of which routes and substations are now being taken forward to the next stage of development.
Our Reports on Consultation are now available to download from the Project Documentation tab.
Summary Reports on Consultation are also available for each of the three schemes and can be downloaded below:
- Summary Report on Consultation Spittal to Beauly
- Summary Report on Consultation Beauly to Peterhead
- Summary Report on Consultation Kintore to Tealing
A stakeholder webinar available for all to join will be held in the coming weeks to share the changes informed by the feedback. More information about the forthcoming webinar will be shared on our events page shortly.
In further recognition of community feedback, we will seek to rationalise cumulative infrastructure impacts through the removal and undergrounding of existing transmission lines, where technically practical and appropriate, and subject to all necessary planning consents and landowner agreements.
Work to identify and assess potential sections of existing overhead line where their removal will reduce cumulative impacts is ongoing, with an update expected as part of the next round of public consultation on overhead line alignments and more detailed substation designs in early 2024.
We would once again like to thank all stakeholders who took the time to engage with our early consultation process. We will continue to engage with stakeholders ahead of consulting further with local communities and stakeholders in the new year, as we look to refine our proposals.
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Report on Consultation
Over the course of this year, we have undertaken extensive consultation on plans to upgrade the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland and have received a considerable amount of feedback from a wide range of stakeholders regarding our proposals.
We recently advised in our next steps for 2030 network developments update that following assessment of consultation feedback and additional options analysis, we would publish our Report on Consultations (RoCs). These reports provide a summary of the feedback received and how it has been considered, which options we will take forward to the next stage of the development process and any changes to options initially consulted on.
It is our intention to publish the RoCs during the week commencing 27 November. All stakeholders signed up for updates on the project will receive a link to the report and we will also issue Summary Reports to help ensure accessibility.
These Report on Consultations mark the completion of the first round of non-statutory consultation, where we sought feedback on the corridor, route, and substation locations. We will be consulting further with local communities and stakeholders in the new year, as we look to refine the projects, therefore we welcome an open channel of communication and would like to reassure all stakeholders that there will be further opportunities to engage on this project.
Our Reports on Consultation and Summary Reports on Consultation are now available to download from the Project Documentation tab. -
SSEN Transmission sets out next steps for Pathway to 2030 network developments
We have announced our next steps for our Pathway to 2030 programme of projects. We would like to thank everyone who has engaged with our teams and kindly taken the time to respond to our consultations.
Full details of the announcement can be found here:
Next steps for Pathway to 2030