More than £5bn worth of transmission infrastructure upgrades have been recommended for the north of Scotland by the UK grid operator.
National Grid Electricity System Operator’s 2022 Network Options Assessment outlined the plans, which are in line with the UK government’s ambitions to generate 40GW offshore wind by 2030 and decarbonise the energy sector by 2035.
The assessment recommended upgrades to alleviate constraints by providing bulk-transfer capability to connect and transport renewable electricity generation from remote locations to areas of demand.
SSEN Transmission, the electricity transmission owner for the north of Scotland, welcomed the proposals, which included two subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links from Peterhead to England.
They also included a second HVDC link from Spittal, in Caithness, to Peterhead and onshore reinforcements between Peterhead and Inverness, with further upgrades north of the latter.
The investments, subject to all necessary planning and regulatory approvals, support SSE’s recently announced Net Zero Acceleration Programme, which set out plans to invest £12.5bn in the five years to 2026.
SSEN Transmission manager director Rob McDonald said the upgrades were critical to achieving net zero and unlocking the offshore wind capacity announced in ScotWind.
He said: “These investments will also provide huge economic opportunities for the north of Scotland and throughout GB, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs in the development and construction phases.
“In enabling the connection of indigenous, clean renewable electricity generation, these investments will also be crucial in reducing the UK’s dependence on volatile global wholesale gas markets.”
SSEN Transmission will now consult with stakeholders and local communities on the programme and with the government, Ofgem and the wider industry to provide investment.