Local authority Perth and Kinross Council has approved a new SSEN Transmission project, namely the Cambushinnie 400 kV substation and its associated haul track to be located near Braco in Scotland.
SSEN believes the project is a significant milestone for the company’s proposed upgrade of the existing Beauly to Denny overhead line; it will increase the capacity of both line circuits to 400 kV from the current capacity of 400 kV and 275 kV respectively.
The Beauly-Denny upgrade is a key component of SSEN’s £29 bn investment programme – part of a wider upgrade of the electricity grid across Great Britain – that is required to help unblock grid bottlenecks, and provide improved energy security via the increased delivery of clean ‘homegrown’ electricity.
The Cambushinnie substation will be located immediately west of the existing Braco West 275 kV substation and connect to the existing overhead line, with an underground cable between the two substations. Cambushinnie will be an outdoor air insulated switchgear (AIS) component, and key to the wider Beauly to Denny upgrade, creating increased transmission capacity to support the delivery of renewable electricity generated across Scotland.
Alongside the substation, the approved ‘haul track’ will provide a dedicated route for substation construction traffic, including the delivery of large components such as 400 kV transformers. The haul route has been designed to minimise impacts on local communities by diverting substation construction traffic away from residential areas.
The proposals include a range of measures aimed at minimising impacts and enhancing outcomes for the local area, alongside continued engagement with communities and stakeholders as the projects move forward, helping to ensure the project can leave a positive legacy.
Work on the substation is scheduled to begin after the haul route is complete and available for use. A dedicated community liaison group will also be established, creating a clear channel for communication between the project team and the local community during construction, and a dedicated forum to support ongoing engagement and provide feedback directly to the project team.
