SSEN Transmission has received approval from Scottish ministers for the upgrade of its Creag Dhubh-Dalmally overhead line across Argyll and Kintyre from 132kV to 275kV capacity.
The project is crucial for supporting the region's renewable energy growth.
The Argyll and Kintyre 275kV strategy is a critical part of the company's Pathway to 2030 programme. This £20bn ($26bn) investment is expected to support thousands of jobs and substantially benefit both local and national economies.
The strategy aligns with the broader goal of renewing the transmission network throughout Great Britain, meeting clean power and energy security targets set by the UK and Scottish governments.
The Section 37 planning application was submitted to the Scottish government in early summer 2022.
However, it faced a setback when Argyll and Bute Council's Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee objected, leading to a local public inquiry.
Despite this objection, no other statutory stakeholder objections were noted.
The inquiry caused delays in connecting low carbon electricity generation in the region, with SSEN Transmission noting increased costs due to supply chain issues, inflationary pressures and significant legal expenses.
These additional costs will ultimately be borne by energy consumers.
SSEN Transmission capital development and delivery director Tony Scott stated: “We welcome the decision by the Scottish ministers to grant consent for the Creag Dhubh-Dalmally 275kV overhead line.
"As a responsible developer with decades of experience and expertise in developing transmission infrastructure, this decision demonstrates the robustness and professionalism of our development process.
"We also recognise that some in the local community may be disappointed by the decision and as we now look ahead to the construction phase, we would like to reassure the local community and wider stakeholders that we are committed to working with them to minimise any construction impacts, alongside engaging with businesses and other partners in the area to maximise the economic opportunities that our investments across Argyll and Kintyre represent.”
In May 2024, SSEN Transmission appointed a consortium including Sumitomo Electric and Van Oord as the preferred bidder for the Shetland 2 525kV HVDC subsea cable project.
