Overview
Status: Construction Phase
Stage 4 of 5 complete — This is the stage where we mobilise our people, contractors and equipment. The project is well underway at this point.
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 Documents tab. Summary Reports on Consultation are also available here:
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.
About the Project
We are constructing a new 400kV substation adjacent to the existing 275kV substation at Peterhead. We previously consulted on proposals for a new substation at Peterhead in 2013, however due to the changing requirements in the transmission network, we have undertaken further system and technical analysis to ensure that our proposals meet the future requirements of the network.
Due to network analysis and a significant increase in onshore and offshore generation within the north east of Scotland, there is a requirement for us to reinforce the transmission network at Peterhead through the provision of a 400kV substation. The new substation will comprise of four enclosed super grid transformers, a 400kV gas-insulated busbar, substation control building and associated infrastructure.
Our proposals will also provide consideration of our plans to reinforce the existing 275kV overhead line, which connects the substations at Blackhillock, Keith, Kintore and Peterhead, to enable operation at an increased voltage of 400kV.
Find Out More About Peterhead 2030 Developments
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.
Project Updates

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.

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 for this project in the coming months. 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

Stage 1 Commissioning Nearing Completion
The Peterhead 400kV Substation construction project is gearing up to hit a major milestone later this month once Stage 1 commissioning is complete. The team are preparing for the first energisation of the substation, which will see the staged flow of electrical current through parts of the substation for the first time. The step-by-step energisation process will begin at the end of August, with full energisation expected this November.
Reaching this point has required the completion of many major activities this year, including the installation of two new transmission towers and upgrading of the existing overhead line to 400kV, new underground cables between the new substation and the neighbouring Peterhead 275kV substation, and the installation, testing and commissioning of the switchgear and busbars. The team are proud to have reached the final leg of this project.

Festive period site closure
Our Principal Contractor Balfour Beatty’s works at Peterhead substation will pause for the festive period on Friday 23rd December until Wednesday 4th January 2023.

July 2022 Update

April 2022 Update

A90 Junction Improvement Works

Temporary 40mph Speed Restriction A90

Lendrum Road (South) Road Closure
Birds eye view of Peterhead Substation

U66B Road Closure

Site Compound Set Up

Public Road Improvements Begin

Public Road Improvement Works

Planning Application Determination

Peterhead Substation – Planning Applications submitted

Feedback Period Open

Public Consultation Event
Project Documents
Next steps for Pathway to 2030 network developments
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The challenges with undergrounding at 400kV
- Type:
- Date:
- 01 December 2023
- Size:
- 347.9 KB
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How has the need for Pathway to 2030 projects been assessed and determined
- Type:
- Date:
- 14 November 2023
- Size:
- 5.1 MB
-
SSEN Transmission sets out next steps for 2030 network developments .pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 11 October 2023
- Size:
- 122.3 KB
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diversion-route.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 1.3 MB
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lendrum-road-south-road-closure.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 156.1 KB
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north-east-400kv-eastern-reinforcements-nov-2019.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 4.5 MB
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peterhead-news-ad.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 1.2 MB
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peterhead-substation-mail-drop-final-2.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 137.3 KB
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road-closure.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 211.2 KB
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ssen-peterhead-400kv-substation-12pp-booklet-stage-1.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 900.5 KB
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temporary-signage-arrangement.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 1.2 MB
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traffic-management-peterhead-a90.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 595.5 KB
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Latest Links
-
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.
-
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