Latest news with #SSEN
Press and Journal
5 hours ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Residents fight plans for Longside substation FOUR TIMES the size of Disneyland Paris
Longside residents are fighting multi-million-pound plans to build a substation four times bigger than Disneyland Paris on their doorstep. Locals fear the proposed 570-acre site would 'dwarf their beloved village', which could be erected less than a mile away from the Aberdeenshire village. SSEN submitted blueprints for the huge energy hub in November as part of a £20 billion scheme to upgrade the network across the whole of north Scotland. They say the Longside site would help convert power from Caithness to England. However, locals have condemned the size of the proposed Netherton Hub, claiming it would drive people away from the area, while causing house prices to plummet. Tensions reached another high at a recent meeting as residents and SSEN went head to head over the 'catastrophic' plans. Energy chiefs explained the benefits of the development – which would be bigger than Monaco – and argued that residents' objections were 'just opinions on policy'. They added the Netherton Hub would a 'crucial component' of its £20bn 'Pathway to 2030' programme. The site would be built just outside Longside, and come with two high-voltage converter stations to act as a middle man between Caithness and South Humber in England. There would also be a transmission hall that could be up to 100-ft high. During Wednesday's pre-determination hearing, locals cited a number of reasons as to why councillors should bin the proposal. Roger Bryce, a former community councillor and agricultural expert, was the first to lambaste the firm over the site, which would be six time the size of the village itself. Mr Bryce stated: 'It is not a sustainable project. 'It's significantly bigger than required… It will severely impact the local amenity and tourism.' Mr Bryce also fears the energy hub could lead to 'visitor numbers significantly falling' if the plans are approved. He said: 'Construction traffic and building sites are not conducive to tourists. 'They will just find alternative unspoilt areas.' However, an SSEN spokesman that a study they have carried out before the plans were officially submitted showed there would be a 'negligible impact' on tourism. Fighting the corner for the energy firm, Murray Agnew gave a rundown of why Longside Community Council's objection should be disregarded. He argued that the lengthy statement they had submitted to the council was merely 'the particular view of the author on energy policy and infrastructure funding.' 'These reasons (that they object) are not supported by any evidence in the assessment by the community council,' Mr Agnew told the meeting. 'It is suffice to say we do not agree with these points. 'It is clear there is true support for the development from the development plan.' An SSEN spokesman told The P&J that Netherton Hub is a 'critical part' of their £20 billion investment in upgrading the network in the north of Scotland. They added that the project would 'provide a significant boost to local and national economies'. The proposal will now be put forward to the Buchan area committee at a later date for a review. It will then have to be presented to members of the infrastructure committee members, who will make the final decision. You can view the full plans here.
The National
21 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Skye power line approved despite council and resident objections
SSEN's "Skye reinforcement" project seeks to replace the existing, single circuit overhead line which is reaching the end of its operational life, according to the company. SSEN has said the line needs to be strengthened to maintain electricity to homes and businesses in Skye and the Western Isles, as well as renewable energy developments which are set to rely on the new line to carry electricity into the national grid. READ MORE: Zonal pricing could save Scottish glass sector £20 million, report says However, campaigners have said extensive surveys were carried out on SSEN's "preferred route" and no others without informing communities. It has also renewed calls against a large camp for up to 350 workers which will move to the Skye during the construction of the new electricity line, adding to the population of the town of around 1000 people for an estimated five years. Food and facilities company Sodexo is seeking permission from Highland Council for a camp for SSEN workers in Broadford, Skye. 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 poles remaining from Edinbane to Ardmore. Around 15km of the circuit will be undergrounded as it passes the Cuillin Hills and another 9km where it connects to Fort Augustus substation. The planning submission was submitted to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit in September 2022. Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said: 'We welcome this positive decision. The Skye reinforcement project is crucial to maintaining local network reliability and will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its energy security and clean power ambitions. 'This project and our wider investment programme will also be a major driver of jobs and economic growth locally and across the north of Scotland, bringing substantial opportunities for communities and businesses. 'We trust that the Scottish Government's new guidance, setting out a 52-week determination period, will see future projects progress in line with the acceleration needed to achieve the country's clean power mission. "As we now move to the delivery phase of the project, we are committed to working constructively with local communities and businesses to minimise and mitigate construction impacts, alongside maximising the economic, infrastructure and job opportunities this investment will bring." The Skye Wind Farm Information Group said they were "deeply disappointed" to learn that the Scottish Government granted planning permission, with Dr Andrew Robinson stating: 'The Highland Council objected to the plans in November 2023. As the local planning authority, such an objection would normally trigger a public inquiry, but, instead planning consent has been given and the council's objection ignored. This is a failure of democracy." A second camp has also been proposed by Balfor Beauly. It is believed the accommodation could see another 350/400 people in the town. READ MORE: Views sought on plans for major renewable 'energy park' in Perthshire Robinson added: "The power line brings with it pylons, quarries, trenches and giant substations at Edinbane and Broadford. The two workers camps proposed either side of Broadford village, housing up to 800 workers are only needed to build the power line and the substations. "These should have been included in the original planning paperwork for the OHL but instead have been salami sliced into separate applications. "Whilst SSEN told us the existing line is old and needs replacing, their new power line will be much larger, at a size only necessary to take the electricity from all the wind farms proposed for Skye. "Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller scale community owned wind farms were never properly considered. "This decision today could be seen as a presumption from the Scottish Government that all the wind farms proposed for Skye will be built.'
Scotsman
21 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Ministers issue long-awaited decision on powerline upgrade on Scotland's most visited island
Community groups have said they fear the upgrade will attract more windfarm applications. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Controversial plans to upgrade a powerline stretching across Scotland's most visited island have been given the go ahead. SSEN Transmission, the developers behind the grid infrastructure upgrade, lodged plans to improve the overhead line between Skye and Fort Augustus. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These were objected to by Highland Council in 2023 and the decision has been sitting on ministers' desks ever since. Controversial overhead line upgrade for Skye consented by ministers after more than two years of decision making | SSEN The Scottish Government confirmed on Monday that SSEN Transmission's plans to replace the 'outdated infrastructure' have now been approved. Community groups on Skye, who have called for a pause on further windfarm developments on Skye, said they were disappointed by the move. Residents have argued it could be seen as 'a presumption from the Scottish Government that all the windfarms proposed for Skye will be built.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are currently some nine new windfarm developments for the island that have either been approved, are in planning or to waiting to be extended or repowered, including one which is due to go under inquiry later this month. SSEN insisted the existing, single circuit overhead line is fast reaching the end of its operational life, with its replacement 'critical' to maintaining network reliability and security of supply for homes and businesses in Skye and along the line's route, and in the Western Isles, which is currently supplied by two subsea electricity distribution cables. The company said the power line is currently 'operating at its capacity limit, preventing the connection of new renewable electricity in the area' and that its replacement will have a greater capacity for new renewable electricity generation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Andrew Robinson, a spokesperson for the Skye Wind Farm Information Group (SWIG), which has over one thousand members, said: 'We are deeply disappointed to learn that the Scottish Government have today granted planning permission for the Skye Reinforcement Overhead Line. 'The Highland Council objected to the plans in November 2023. As the local planning authority, such an objection would normally trigger a public inquiry, but, instead planning consent has been given and the council's objection ignored. 'This is a failure of democracy. 'The power line brings with it pylons, quarries, trenches and giant substations at Edinbane and Broadford. The two workers camps proposed either side of Broadford village, housing up to 800 workers are only needed to build the power line and the substations. 'These should have been included in the original planning paperwork for the OHL but instead have been salami sliced into separate applications.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The group has argued SSEN's upgrade to the current infrastructure 'will be much larger, at a size only necessary to take the electricity from all the wind farms proposed for Skye.' Dr Robinson added: 'Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller scale community owned wind farms were never properly considered.' Industry bosses have long spoken about their frustrations with the Scottish Government's delays when consenting on projects, including the powerline upgrade. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this year, Scottish ministers committed to a new 52-week decision making period on priority applications for transmission infrastructure. Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, welcomed the Scottish Government's decision for Skye after what has been about a two hour wait for the company. He said: 'We trust that the Scottish Government's new guidance, setting out a 52-week determination period, will see future projects progress in line with the acceleration needed to achieve the country's clean power mission. "As we now move to the delivery phase of the project, we are committed to working constructively with local communities and businesses to minimise and mitigate construction impacts, alongside maximising the economic, infrastructure and job opportunities this investment will bring." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said the move showed a decision made by the council, who local communities elected, was 'overruled by Scottish Government officials in Edinburgh.' The Conservative politicians said: 'This is a story repeated across the Highlands and Islands where, time and time again, local democracy is ridden roughshod over and all just to meet SNP renewables targets. 'It is part of a concerning pattern of centralised decision-making that suits the government in Edinburgh and large energy companies, but which sidelines local communities. 'Highland Council's rejection of the project last year reflected the very real concerns of those living in the affected areas.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'This project will replace outdated infrastructure to ensure security of energy supply to the residents of Skye and the Western Isles, and increase provision of renewable energy to the system.
BBC News
a day ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Climate change a growing problem as power network cuts more trees
Criss-crossing the south of England are the thousands of miles of overhead cables bringing power to homes and businesses. Keeping those lines clear of trees and vegetation is a never ending task for power distributors like Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). The company is spending £25m a year surveying and clearing its lines. With climate change meaning longer growing seasons, the company that supplies power across Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, says it is likely to become a bigger problem. Resource & Scheduling Manager Russell Turner explains: "On average, I think we forecast back in 2021, it was 1.2m of growth per year. "And that is only going to increase with climate change going the way that it's going."Growing seasons seem to mean that we're experiencing larger growth and of course we need to cut more to stay on top." SSEN is responsible for around 40,000 miles (64,267km) of overhead lines across the region. Each span, the distance between poles, is checked every three years for tree growth and obstructions. The south has the most densely vegetated the past two years, teams have surveyed 190,000 spans - the equivalent to 9,500 miles (15,288km). Out of those spans checked, 114,000 were identified as needing cutting. Jack Perrins is a Quality Safety Inspector. He is one of a team of 20 line walkers who physically check each span."I do about 20,000 steps a day," he says. "In the summer you can get out a bit earlier, it's lighter because you can't really do this job in the dark."I came from a tree cutting background so I understand the trees and I'm still outside, I'm still enjoying it."By walking the length of a line, Jack can spot problem areas as well as talk to landowners and identify access issues for cutting teams."The best way to do it is on foot," he says. "So although we do have Lidar, they don't pick up what is on the ground, what needs cutting, what the ground conditions are like. The best way to do it is on foot." The information gathered by the team of line walkers is passed on to utility arborists like Archie-blu Cupper: "We will have a circuit which we are given and we will work our way through that circuit. "We will start at one pole and then work our way through the entire line. Some of them can take weeks - it depends on how bad the growth is. "Once we are done with one circuit we will move on to the next circuit in the area and we're basically moving around chasing our tail essentially."Three point one million customers rely on SSEN's network in the south. If power is lost due to a fallen tree the company faces penalties from the regulator to the distributor, recent investment in line clearance has seen a 20% reduction in power cuts over the past 12 months. For the teams on the ground access to the power lines isn't always straight the company has emergency powers to get onto land to fix lines brought down by trees, day-to-day maintenance can prove more challenging."Land owner refusals is a big one – people don't want us on their land cutting their trees," says tree cutting manager Gary Ellcome."Crops in farmer's fields is a bit of a problem. "We have got to time cutting around that and a big one is bird-nesting season so we've got to be really careful."While technology is being developed to use satellites to identify tree species and monitor power lines, for now line walkers like Jack will continue to follow the network wherever it takes them. He says where the cables go the line walkers follow: "Over barbed wire fences, over ditches, rivers – we'll find a way and walk the route. "You go through many a sock." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Press and Journal
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Best pictures from Young Farmers' Highland Rally
Young Farmers from across the north gathered for their annual Highland Rally in Muir of Ord this weekend. All members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs (SAYFC), they got together to put their baking, handicrafts, stock judging and sports skills to the test. Friendly rivalry was much in evidence at the Black Isle Showground. Electricity firm SSEN ran a risk assessment event as part of the rally. SAYFC members were encouraged to consider potential risks and ways to avoid them. The stock judging competition had a record number of entries, more than 160. There was also knot tying, first aid skills and a joinery competition. In the afternoon, members competed in tossing the sheaf, football and tug o' war competitions. It's always a great day for the Highland clubs to get together and have a well-earned catch up, which is what it's all about.
