NPF2 Action Programme – Action 21

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Action

Deliver new sub-sea cable electricity transmission links for the Outer Hebrides and the Shetland Islands

NPF2 Paragraph Reference

103, 105, 158, Map 10, Annex- National Development 11

Contribution to NPF Strategy

  • Helps realise the potential of renewable energy resources and facilitates the generation of power and heat from clean, low carbon sources.
  • Expands opportunities for communities and businesses by promoting environmental quality and good connectivity.
  • Supports strong, sustainable growth for the benefit of all parts of Scotland.
  • Helps to reduce Scotland's carbon footprint and facilitates adaptation to climate change
MilestonesPost 2009 - Pre-construction studies and technology option investigation and planning and delivery of reinforcements including environmental assessment and appropriate assessment to define mitigation and compensation measures to protect Natura 2000 sites, biodiversity, including siting and design, minimise effects on communities, the historic environment, landscapes, soil, water and an assessment of carbon impacts.

Lead Partner(s)/Delivery Bodies

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd, Scottish Government (Energy Directorate)
Ofgem, Shetland Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar , SEPA, SNH
Progress

Planning consents are in place for a 450MW link between Grabhair on Lewis And Beauly. Planning permission for the convertor station at Beauly was approved on appeal by the Scottish Ministers in March 2011. Developers of large windfarm projects on Lewis are, however, unable to commit to progressing their projects in the face of the high transmission network charges that would apply. SHETL is therefore unable to start construction of the link. It is hoped that Project TransmiT, Ofgem's review of transmission charging, will deliver a solution which will allow work to go ahead, but if not, DECC has stated that it is taking forward work to enable UK ministers to use their powers under Section 185 of the Energy Act (2004), allowing a cap on island transmission charges to be applied soon after the outcomes of Project TransmiT are announced.

Cable permissions have been secured for a 600MW link between Upper Kergord on Shetland and Blackhillock in Moray, and outline planning permission has been secured for convertor stations at Upper Kergord and Blackhillock. The Viking Energy windfarm project on Shetland awaits a decision from Scottish Ministers on Section 36 Consent. The commercial viability of the Viking Energy project is also highly dependent on future GB transmission charging arrangements.

December 2009 - the European Commission awarded €74m from the European Energy Programme for Recovery for the inclusion of an offshore hub in the Moray Firth on the route of the proposed link. Slippage of Viking wind farm on Shetland means that a planned Caithness/Moray subsea circuit to allow for the export of renewable generation from Caithness, Pentland Firth and Orkney now comes before Shetland link. The offshore hub is therefore proposed as part of Caithness-Moray circuit, allowing for connection of future Shetland link as well as potential offshore wind farm developments in the Moray Firth. An updated funding request to Ofgem is being prepared

Page updated: Friday, October 14, 2011