Scottish & Southern Energy
Opponents to fight go-ahead for Beauly-Denny power line
The Herald: Published on 7 Jan 2010
Campaigners have vowed to challenge the go-ahead for the controversial £350 million Beauly-Denny power line, which its supporters say will unlock Scotland’s vast store of renewable energy.
Energy Minister Jim Mather formally announced the green light for the project in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, nearly three months after the decision was first revealed by the Sunday Herald.
The upgraded 137-mile-long line will pass through some of the country’s most beautiful scenery to carry the huge additional loads of electricity expected to be generated by wind, wave and hydro power in the Highlands and Islands.
Many opponents were angry that the Government said it could not demand any of the line – which will see 600 pylons, each 200ft high, run from Inverness-shire to Denny, near Falkirk – be placed underground.
They said it raised fears over the future of areas of scenic, environmental and cultural value such as the Cairngorms National Park.
Last night the former MP and MSP Dennis Canavan, president of Ramblers Scotland, said: “I think there is the possibility of judicial review, based on the fact that the [inquiry] reporter would not accept detailed evidence on viable alternatives, which would have been far more environmentally friendly and far more economic.”
At Holyrood, Mr Mather failed to give a response after being asked what sections would be underground. But a Government spokesman later said: “The application was for an overhead cable, so the minister does not have power to insist on underground.” Helen McDade, of wildlife charity the John Muir Trust, said: “As far as we can gather it is left up to the company to negotiate with locals over undergrounding, and then to get approval from the Government. This really is extraordinary when you consider the detailed examination of the issue that went on during the inquiry.”
Mr Mather told MSPs: “Scotland’s electricity network needs significant reinforcement. Currently we do not have the transmission capacity to carry the green energy Scotland will generate over the coming years.”
Ministers due to approve £400m Beauly-Denny power line
BBC 06/01/10
Controversial plans for a line of giant pylons from the Highlands to central Scotland are expected to be approved by the Scottish government. Ministers are also due to outline the conditions under which the project could go ahead, after it received more than 18,000 objections.
About 600 pylons, up to 200ft in height, would connect renewable power projects to the national grid. The line would run from Beauly, west of Inverness, to Denny, near Falkirk.
The £400m project would carry 400,000 volts (400kV), replacing the existing 132kV line, which runs along a similar route.
Supporters said the scheme - which has divided environmentalists and green energy advocates - was needed to help meet renewable energy commitments.
The power line would run from Beauly to Denny but concerns have been raised over the impact to landscape of the massive pylons and a lack of detail over alternative to options to the 137-mile route, which passes through the Cairngorms National Park.
The plan has been the subject of a public inquiry, the recommendations of which the Scottish government has had for almost a year.
Ministers will outline their decision in a statement to the Scottish Parliament.
Opposition parties said the move was long overdue.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is behind the project through its licensed transmission company, Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL). SP Transmission Ltd (SPT) is also involved.
They plan to expand the existing substation at Beauly, which currently handles power from hydro-electric schemes, and link it to a new cable carrying electricity from wind farms on the Western Isles.
At the other end of the line, a substation would be built on a new site at Denny, where a number of transmission lines intersect.
The scheme would help boost the Scottish government’s target to meet 50% of Scotland’s energy needs to be met by renewable sources by 2020.
Glendoe out of action until 2011 A £140m hydro electric scheme will not generate power at all next year, its operator has said.
In August, a rock fall closed tunnel carrying water from a hilltop reservoir to a massive turbine on the Glendoe project near Loch Ness. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said it was unlikely the plant would be running again until April 2011. A new tunnel may have to be built to bypass the damaged section at Glendoe. The hydro scheme was officially opened by the Queen in June.
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