Ofgem has approved early construction funding for a number of major transmission projects.
The projects include eight Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission undertakings, and Sealink, a proposed NGET transmission project between Suffolk and Kent to reinforce the transmission system in the south and east regions.
The Scottish projects include six onshore and two offshore transmission links.
The works are part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, Ofgem’s streamlined process to help achieve the Government’s clean power goals including connecting 43 – 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Beatrice Filkin, Ofgem Director of Major Projects, said: “Today’s decision means that we’ll be able to power more homes with homegrown clean power faster.
“Releasing early investment to suitable projects equips British Transmission Operators (TOs) to compete globally, avoid delays caused by supply chain constraints and secure the sought-after materials and components to boost our energy security and power our homes and economy.”
She added: “It’s important to underline that we are not handing projects blank cheques nor greenlighting the projects themselves – these are rightly decisions for the relevant planning authorities.
“We work with the TOs to ensure intelligent use of early investment, so that any losses are minimised, if projects are altered, cancelled or refused permission, and any unspent money is returned to consumers.”
Approved for early construction funding are: the Beauly to Loch Buidhe 400kV Reinforcement, the Loch Buidhe to Spittal 400kV Reinforcement, Beauly to Blackhillock 400kV Double Circuit, Blackhillock and Peterhead 400kV Double Circuit, the increase of the Beauly to Denny 275kV Circuit to 400kV, and the East Coast Onshore 400kV Phase 2 reinforcement.
The two offshore transmission projects to receive early construction funding are the Spittal to Peterhead 2GW HVDC Subsea link and the Arnish to Beauly (Western Isles) HVDC link.