Beauly-Denny

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL), a subsidiary of SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc), has completed its initial analysis of the conditions associated with the consents granted by Scottish Ministers on 6 January 2010 to install a 400kV overhead electricity transmission line to replace an existing 132kV overhead transmission line between Beauly and Denny.

Ministers stated on 6 January that they agreed with the Beauly-Denny public inquiry reporters’ recognition of the ‘pressing need’ to reinforce the electricity network.  They also stated on 20 January that, subject to SHETL’s and SP Transmission’s proposals, they do not anticipate any additional delays to the upgrade as a result of the conditions. SHETL has concluded it should be able to undertake preliminary construction works this year, with a further four summers of construction work required to complete the new line.

Conditions associated with the consents to build the new line include the requirement to remove a total of 109km of existing overhead transmission line, supported by pylons, in the Highland and Perth and Kinross areas, in addition to the existing 220km Beauly-Denny overhead line being removed.  This means: 

• Removing three sections of 132kV overhead transmission line, totalling 6km, around Beauly and replacing them with underground cables; 
• Removing altogether 53km of 132kV overhead transmission line between Boat of Garten and Cairnmore in the Cairngorm National Park; 
• Removing 40km of 132kV overhead transmission line between Etteridge and Boat of Garten in the Cairngorm National Park and replacing it with 33kV overhead lines supported by wooden poles, or underground cables; and
• Removing sections of 132kV overhead transmission line around Whitebridge and around Amulree, totalling 10km, and replacing them with underground cables.
  

The full press release can be viewed here

A map (266 KB), detailing the above, can be viewed here

More information

A booklet describing the project and its associated works:
    Project Information Booklet (1.72 MB)

Project enquiries:

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Media enquiries should be directed to:
Morven Smith at SSE on +44 (0)845 0760 530

General enquiries can be sent to:
Morven Smith
Corporate Affairs
SSE | Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

T: +44 (0)845 070 1696
E: beauly-denny@sse.com