SSEN Transmission (SSEN) is seeking input on the development of plans for a major new electricity network upgrade between Beauly and Peterhead at a series of public consultation events taking place this month.

SSEN said that to enable the continued growth in renewable energy across the north of Scotland that is required to support the drive towards the country's net zero ambitions, significant investment in new and upgraded electricity network infrastructure is needed to connect renewable power and transport it from source to areas of demand across the country.

This includes the need for a new overhead electricity transmission line between Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer and Peterhead, which has been identified by the GB Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, as 'essential' to deliver Government 2030 targets for offshore wind. By enabling the growth in low carbon, homegrown power, the project will also support the UK Government's British Energy Security Strategy, helping deliver future energy independence and energy security by reducing the country's dependence on, and price exposure to, volatile global wholesale gas markets.

The proposed project will involve building a new 400kV overhead line connection between Beauly, Blackhillock, New Deer and Peterhead. Additional substation infrastructure will also be required, either extensions to existing substation sites, or new sites in the vicinity of those existing substations.

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SSEN Transmission is inviting members of the public to share their views on the project at a series of public consultation events throughout September. The consultation will introduce the project, the development process and present SSEN Transmission's preferred route corridor for the new overhead line. Feedback from this consultation and further studies will then help inform the more refined route selection, which SSEN Transmission expects to consult on in spring 2023.

Eight in-person public consultation events have been arranged to take place at various locations across the north of Scotland. These are open-door drop-in session for anyone interested in learning more about the project. During these drop-in events, members of the public will be able to view key project information about the proposals, along with the opportunity for members of the community to ask questions to the project team and share any feedback they have.

The drop-in public consultation events will be held between 2-7pm at the following locations:

• Monday 19 September – Beauly – Kilmarnock Hall A831, Beauly, IV4 7AG

• Tuesday 20 September – Inverness – Kingsmill Hotel Culcabock Rd, Inverness IV2 3LP

• Wednesday 21 September – Forres, Town Hall, High St, Forres, IV36 1PB

• Thursday 22 September – Elgin – UHI Moray College, Moray St, Elgin IV30 1JJ

• Monday 26 September – Keith – Longmore Hall, Banff Road, Keith, AB55 5ET

• Tuesday 27 September – Turriff – Baden Powell Centre, Baden Powell Road, Turriff, AB53 4FA

• Wednesday 28 September – New Deer Public Hall, Fordyce Terrace, New Deer, Aberdeenshire, AB53 6WE

• Thursday 29 September – Peterhead – Balmoor Stadium, Lord Catto Park, Peterhead, AB42 1EU

Commenting on the project, Catherine Swan, SSEN Transmission Senior Development Project Manager said: "The Beauly to Peterhead project has been identified as essential to support Government targets and will be key to unlocking renewable energy generation in the north of Scotland, enabling clean electricity to be transmitted to areas of demand across the county. The project will also help deliver against Government's plans to secure energy independence and energy security by enabling the growth in low carbon, homegrown power, reducing the country's dependence on, and price exposure to, volatile global wholesale gas markets.

"Our plans are still in the early stages of developing and as a stakeholder-led business, we would encourage anyone with an interest in the project to attend one of our consultation events later this month to learn more about the proposals, meet the project team and share feedback for consideration. This feedback will help inform the more detailed routeing stage of the development process and we look forward to meeting with interested stakeholders throughout September."