Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed Ofgem approval for a new 1.8GW electricity Transmission Link to the Outer Hebrides to be delivered 2030.

The Link will run underground from National Grid at Beauly to Dundonnel then subsea to Arnish Point near Stornoway.

The new Transmission Link will allow 420MW of Onshore Wind generation in Lewis and 1.3GW of Offshore Wind generation from ScotWind Areas N3 and N4, north and west of the islands, to go ahead and to export 'clean green' electricity from the Islands into the National Grid.

Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: "The islands have waited a long time for this excellent news. The potential for the Western Isles to be a world class resource in Renewable Energy has long been talked about and that potential can now be delivered for the benefit of the climate, UK energy security and our island economy. It has taken many years of hard work by so many people but the result is the most significant economic development ever to take place in the Western Isles."

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Cllr Donald Crichton, Chair of the Comhairle's Sustainable Development Committee, said: "The Comhairle has long campaigned for this Transmission Link and its delivery is testament to the staying power of the Comhairle over a period of almost 20 years, refusing to let this opportunity go and maintaining pressure on Government, the Regulator and our regional Transmission Owner. This is great and welcome news which has the potential to transform the economy of the islands through conventional Community Benefit, Shared Ownership in generation and Supply Chain benefits. The Comhairle will continue to press for early delivery of the Link, before 2030 if possible."