At an estimated cost of around £480M, the project involves replacing the existing Fort Augustus to Skye electricity transmission line to ensure continued security of supply to Skye and the Western Isles. The proposed new electricity line will replace the existing overhead line between Fort Augustus and on the Isle of Skye, and will be comprised of steel lattice towers, wooden pole overhead lines and sections of underground cable.
The Skye Reinforcement Project would be one of the most significant energy investments in the West Highlands since power was first brought to the area in the 1950s. The project would unlock hundreds of skilled jobs and deliver over £1.2bn to the UK economy over the lifetime of the asset, including £300m worth of local benefits, as well as create £160m worth of net carbon benefits to the UK over the lifetime of the asset from the connection of low carbon energy, displacing harmful emissions from fossil fuel based generation.
Its planned replacement will be essential to maintain network reliability and security of supply to homes and businesses along its route, whilst enabling the connection of new renewable electricity to the GB transmission network; supporting the ambitions of the British Energy Security Strategy and contributing towards the UK and Scotland's renewable energy and net zero targets. To enable the connection of new renewable electricity looking to connect to the transmission network along its route, SSEN Transmission is also proposing to increase the capacity of the replacement line. The existing line has already exceeded its capacity limit, preventing the connection of new renewable electricity in the area.
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To meet the required increased capacity of the replacement line, steel structures will be required from Fort Augustus to Edinbane, extending the existing steel structures where they currently terminate at Broadford; with wooden pole remaining from Edinbane to Ardmore.
However, in direct response to stakeholder feedback, SSEN Transmission is proposing to underground 15km of the line as it passes the Cuillin Hills and 9km where it connects to Fort Augustus substation.
Extensive studies have taken place to identify the best alignment for the Skye Reinforcement Project, particularly in relation to key environmental designations along its route, while also looking to minimise the impact to the local community as much as possible.
The Section 37 planning application includes two route options for the section known as "Section Three" in the project, which crosses between Broadford and the Kylerhea peninsula. Both proposed route options for the overhead line cross through the Kinloch and Kyleakin Hills Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
SSEN Transmission's preferred route, which is also supported by various stakeholders, continues to be option 3A, which broadly follows the existing overhead line and will result in less visual and landscape impacts on the local community. However, under the Habitat Regulations, where an impact is predicted to occur on an SAC, developers are obliged to demonstrate they have considered alternative options, particularly where they may be considered to have a lesser impact on the qualifying features and priority habitats for the SAC designation, in this case a section option known as 3B.
With the existing overhead line fast reaching the end of its operational life and in line with obligations to maintain network reliability, option 3B will be presented as an alternative route in the event it is determined option 3A is not consentable.
Scottish Ministers will now review the application in full, including the balance between the two proposed route options for the area located within part of Section 3.
Euan Smith, SSEN Transmission Project Manager, said: "We're delighted to see the Skye to Fort Augustus reinforcement project taking the next step forwards with the recent submission of our Section 37 Planning Application.
"This project is essential to ensuring security of supply to Skye and the Western Isles, and with sections of the existing line being originally built in the 1950s, it is rapidly reaching the end of its operational life.
"The replacement line will also have an increased capacity to allow the connection of additional renewables to help meet net zero climate change targets, supporting the growth in renewables across the north of Scotland as we continue to decarbonise our energy system. By taking 'a build it once, built it right' approach, it will help keep local disruption to a minimum.
"We believe our proposals strike the right balance between the range of factors we need to consider in the development of our major infrastructure projects and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of the project to date."
