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.
To support the increased capacity from the proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV connection, the export routes to areas of demand must be upgraded to 400kV. This means the existing Alyth – Tealing and Tealing – Westfield overhead lines, which currently operate at 275kV, need to be upgraded to operate at 400kV.
This is part of the East Coast 400kV Phase 2 projects, a scheme consisting of several onshore reinforcement projects on the east coast of Scotland.
Find out more About Kintore to Tealing 400kV Connection
This video outlines how the project contributes to our role in delivering Net Zero.
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 £20bn 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 the Tealing - Westfield Overhead Line Reconductor Project.
Stakeholder Engagement
Public consultations took place in May 2023 to inform the community on progress to date with the East Coast 400kV Phase 2 Projects. We sought feedback from local communities and all interested parties on all the projects that make up the scheme.
Access the 2023 Virtual Exhibition
In this video, Senior Project Manager Calum Grant describes the approach we are taking to develop 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.
The East Coast 400kV Phase 2 Upgrade Projects
The East Coast 400kV Phase 2 is a scheme consisting of several onshore reinforcement projects on the east coast of Scotland, comprising new and upgrade of existing infrastructure. The majority of the infrastructure projects are within our operational area in the north of Scotland.
To provide the full 400kV capability that the scheme intends to deliver, there are several projects that contribute to the full scheme:
- An extension to Kintore 400kV substation (currently under construction)
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A new 400kV substation within the vicinity of the existing Fetteresso substation
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A new 400kV substation within the vicinity of the existing Tealing substation
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A new 400kV connection between Kintore and Tealing
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An upgrade to the existing Alyth - Tealing 275kV overhead line
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An upgrade to the existing Tealing - Westfield 275kV overhead line (to the Scottish Power Transmission operational border)
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Connection of the upgraded Alyth - Tealing and Tealing - Westfield overhead lines into the proposed Tealing substation
Find out more about Kintore 400kV substation
Find out more about Hurlie 400kV substation
Find out more about Tealing (Emmock) 400kV substation
Project Updates
March 2024 feedback period closed
The feedback period for providing comments following our consultations that we held in March 2024 has now closed. All responses received will now be reviewed by the project team ahead of the next round of consultations which is expected to take place in summer.
Although the formal consultation period has closed for the latest events that we held, engagement with affected communities and wider stakeholders will continue beyond the consultation deadline and we will continue to engage with all stakeholders.
March 2024 public consultation
We would like to thank all local community members and stakeholders who took the time to attend our recent March 2024 public consultation events which took place 4 – 7 March with 3 in person events covering the Tealing-Westfield OHL 400kV upgrade.
Our public consultation remains open until 15 April. We welcome all interested parties to submit their feedback regarding the proposals presented during consultation via;
Online feedback form: Tealing - Westfield Overhead Line 400kV Upgrade Consultation Feedback Form
Email: tkup@sse.com
Post: FAO Rhiannon Merritt, SSEN Transmission, 10 Henderson Road, Inverness, IV1 1SN.
Our virtual consultation portal will remain available throughout the consultation period here.
Copies of the consultation booklet and maps available to download via the ‘Project Documents’ section of this project website.
March 2024 public consultation period is now open
We are pleased to announce the first of two series of public consultation events being held in relation to the Section 37 consent application for the upgrade of the Alyth to Tealing and Tealing to Westfield overhead line from 275kV to enable operation at 400kV.
The events will run from 2-7pm at the times and at the locations set out below:
4 March 2024 Errol, Errol Village Hall, North Bank Dykes, Errol, PH2 7QH
5 March 2024 Newburgh, Tayside Institute Community Centre, 90-92 High Street, Newburgh, KY14 6DA
6 March 2024 Alyth, Alyth Town Hall, Victoria Street, Alyth, PH11 8AX
7 March 2024 Tealing, Tealing Village Hall, Hall Road, Inveraldie, Tealing, DD4 0QW
If you are unable to attend any of the planned in-person events, all the material that will be on display can also be downloaded from the project documents section of this dedicated project website at the start of the consultation period.
You can submit your feedback until 15 April 2024 for this project via the feedback form on the project website, by emailing tkup@sse.com or writing to us at SSEN Transmission, 10 Henderson Road, Inverness, IV1 1SN.
Comments made to the applicant are not representations to the Scottish Ministers and if the applicant submits an application there will be an opportunity to make representations on that application to the Scottish Ministers.
Following the events held in May 2023, many enquiries we received were about the need for the projects, the engagement process, environmental considerations, and what alternative technologies may be available. We have compiled ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ to address many of these points which can be viewed here.
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
Feedback period closed
Further engagement with affected communities and wider stakeholders will continue beyond this consultation deadline, particularly in areas of local sensitivity, to help with our ongoing project development. The outcomes of the consultation exercise will be reported publicly in a Report on Consultation.
Throughout the development phase we will continue to engage with stakeholders and intend to hold a second public consultation event towards the end of the year.
Feedback period extension
We would also like to reassure stakeholders that no decisions have yet been taken on potential overhead line routes or substation locations and the project remains at the early stages of development. All feedback received through the consultation will be carefully considered to help inform the ongoing development of this project.
If you have been unable to attend one of our consultation events, you can find all of the relevant consultation documentation within the project documents tab on this webpage.
Initial response to consultation
Following an initial review of the feedback received so far, SSEN Transmission has published an initial response to address some of the key themes which have been identified. Once the feedback period closes, a detailed Report on Consultation will also be published to explain how feedback has been considered to inform the more detailed network design.
The consultation period remains open and we continue to encourage anyone with an interest in the project to share their views by Friday 23 June.
The initial response to consultation is available to be downloaded from the project documents section of this website.
Survey works to help inform next stages of development
We have recently started localised surveys, assessments and ground investigation works at various locations across the Pathway to 2030 projects which will be used to help gather information to inform the next stage of development for a major electricity transmission network upgrade in the north of Scotland.
Over the coming weeks and months, our project teams and contractors will undertake a series of site-specific assessments which include the likes of ground investigations, bird surveys, LiDAR flights, and ecological and archaeological walkovers and assessments.
Ground investigation works have either recently commenced or are set to begin throughout the Summer for the new 400kV substation and converter stations proposed as part of our East Coast 400kV phase 2, Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV connection, Western Isles connection and Beauly – Blackhillock – New Deer – Peterhead 400kV connection projects. Project teams and contractors will undertake a series of site-specific assessments which will help provide vital information and key data for the next phase of project development.
Some of the geo-technical ground investigations may involve drilling boreholes or digging trial pits, which will allow engineers to understand the geographical make-up and suitability of the ground in certain locations to help inform potential design options.
Site assessments and survey works are a key part of the project development process, and the results of these investigations will provide project teams with valuable information to help inform decisions regarding substation site selections and overhead line routes, which will be subject to further consultation later this year.
Initial surveys will prioritise sites and routes which performed the best based on our initial assessment of key environmental and people, technical, and economic factors, and there have been no decisions taken on locations as yet.
There may be more activity on the ground over the summer, and whilst most assessments are expected to cause very little local disruption, we would like to thank the local community for their patience whilst they are carried out. Where more evasive assessments are required such as ground investigation works, we will work to keep local disruption and environmental impacts to a minimum. Please contact your local Community Liaison Manager if you have any questions.
Public Consultation Feedback Period Extension
Additionally for anyone that wasn't able to attend any of the in person events and would like a copy of the booklet which contains all the information displayed we have distributed copies to the following local businesses:
Farm to Table, Westerton Of Pitarrow, Laurencekirk.
Spar Cetras Energy UK, 3 Academy Street, Forfar, DD8 2XF.
May 2023 consultation feedback
Our public consultation will remain open until 23 June, and we would welcome all interested parties to submit their views regarding the proposals presented during consultation. Once the consultation period closes all feedback will be assessed and considered, to help determine next steps required ahead of route determination.
Our virtual consultation portal will remain available throughout the consultation period via the following link. The portal contains links to download the consultation booklet and copies of the maps, however these are also available to download via the 'Project Documents' section on the left hand side of this page.
Public consultation events - May 2023
We are pleased to be hosting both face to face public consultations along with a virtual online consultation exhibition to gain views and feedback on our proposals for the East Coast 400kV phase 2 scheme, which the Tealing - Westfield overhead line re-conductor project is part of.
We would encourage members of the local communities and all interested parties to attend the events, meet the proejct team and and give their views and provide feedback. The face to face consultations will be held at the following locations:
2 May at Milne Hall, Kirkton of Skene between 2-7pm
3 May at Ardoe House Hotel in the Ogston Suite between 2-7pm
4 May at Dickson Hall, Laurencekirk between 2-7pm
9 May at Brechin City Hall, Brechin between 2-7pm
10 May at Westmuir Hall, Kirriemuir between 2-7pm
11 May at Tealing Village Hall, Tealing between 2-7pm
The virtual consultation event will be taking place on:
17 May between 4-6pm
Click here to access our virtual consultation room
Should you have any questions regarding the consultations please contact the projects Community Liaison Manager.
2023 public consultations
Drop-in events will be arranged at various locations and times between Tealing, Westfield and the Glenrothes area where we will welcome all interested parties to come meet our project development team, learn more about the project, ask any questions and share your feedback. Information on the consultation dates and locations will be shared in the New Year.
In the meantime to learn more about the project an information booklet is availabe to be downloaded from the project documents section of this website and to hear from our Senior Development Project Manager Calum describe the approach we are taking to develop our proposals and the opportunities that will be available for stakeholders to feed in to the design process please view our short video here.
Project Documents
March 2024 public consultation documents
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Re-conductoring location map
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- Date:
- 19 February 2024
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- 676.6 KB
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March 2024 re-conductoring public consultation booklet
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- Date:
- 19 February 2024
- Size:
- 2.6 MB
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March 2024 public consultation times
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- Date:
- 19 February 2024
- Size:
- 141.3 KB
Next steps for Pathway to 2030 network developments
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The challenges with undergrounding at 400kV
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- Date:
- 18 March 2024
- Size:
- 424.8 KB
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Delivering a Postive Environmental Legacy Booklet
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- Date:
- 12 February 2024
- Size:
- 5 MB
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Delivering a Lasting Legacy Leaflet
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- Date:
- 12 February 2024
- Size:
- 2.2 MB
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How has the need for Pathway to 2030 projects been assessed and determined
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- Date:
- 14 November 2023
- Size:
- 5.1 MB
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SSEN Transmission sets out next steps for 2030 network developments
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- 11 October 2023
- Size:
- 122.3 KB
May 2023 public consultation documents
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East Coast 400kV Phase 2 Initial consultation feedback response June 2023
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- 13 June 2023
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- 314.8 KB
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May 2023 public consultation information booklet
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- Date:
- 19 April 2023
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- 19.4 MB
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Route sections A-F constraint maps
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- Date:
- 19 April 2023
- Size:
- 24.4 MB
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Corridor options
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.4 MB
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Fiddes substation site selection
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.2 MB
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Preferred corridor
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 5.6 MB
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Preferred route
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 5.3 MB
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Route options
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 5.4 MB
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Route options section A
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.4 MB
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Route options section B
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 5.8 MB
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Route options section C
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 6 MB
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Route options section D
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.5 MB
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Route options section E
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 6.1 MB
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Route options section F
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 6.3 MB
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Tealing substation site selection
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- Date:
- 18 April 2023
- Size:
- 4.4 MB
Project documents
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Delivering a positive environmental legacy
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- Date:
- 28 April 2023
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- 5 MB
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2023 Public Consultation Times
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- 06 April 2023
- Size:
- 147.2 KB
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Grantors Charter
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- Date:
- 15 March 2023
- Size:
- 176.2 KB
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East Coast 400kV Phase 2 Information Booklet
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- Date:
- 13 December 2022
- Size:
- 4.4 MB
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
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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