The Scottish Government has approved a Section 37 planning application for a 132kV electricity transmission overhead line infrastructure between Kergord and Gremista, when once completed will connect Shetland to the GB energy system for the first time.

The Kergord-Gremista link involves creating a 22km connection between the Gremista Grid Supply Point (GSP) and Kergord Substation, which is currently under construction as part of the Shetland HVDC link, using a combination of overhead line and underground cabling. Upon completion, the Kergord-Gremista link will provide a connection to Shetland's local electricity distribution network, connecting the islands to the GB energy system for the first time and helping to secure Shetland's future security of supply.

The approval of SSEN Transmission's Section 37 application for the overhead line section of its Kergord-Gremista link provides the green light to progress into the delivery phase of the project.

The connection will consist of two 22km circuits, which will be a combination of 132kv overhead line and underground cabling. The first phase involves a section of around 4km of underground cabling from Gremista to connect with the start of the overhead line. From there approximately 12km of overhead line will continue in the direction of Kergord, before undergrounding again near Sandwater House for around 5km towards its termination point at Kergord substation.

Approval of the Section 37 is the culmination of over two years of work where extensive local consultation was carried out prior to submitting the planning application over a year ago, which helped to shape the final design of the project.

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SSEN Transmission has also committed to underground around 11km of existing 33kV electricity distribution overhead network infrastructure running in parallel with the proposed 132kV overhead lines and 500m of existing electricity 11kV distribution overhead network infrastructure, reducing the cumulative visual impact of overhead network infrastructure on Shetland's landscape.

Teams have started initial pre-mobilisation work to help ensure the project can be delivered on schedule, including initial delivery of materials such as wooden poles to site near Kergord, and SSEN Transmission's contractor will now begin to set up the site compound close to the southern extent of the first underground section at Gremista.

Robust plans are in place to ensure any impact on sensitive landscape features will be kept to a minimum during construction, such as using helicopters to fly in materials to site to limit the amount of vehicles crossing sensitive terrain. To help ensure that the project leaves a positive legacy for biodiversity, additional areas of habitat are proposed to be enhanced to account for any residual impact to habitats which may be disturbed during construction. This includes proposals for a peatland restoration scheme on approximately 28 hectares of land at Girlsta. The planting of native trees and shrubs will also take place at appropriate locations.

Grant Smith, SSEN Transmission's Lead Project Manager for the Kergord-Gremista connection, said: "We welcome the positive decision on our Section 37 application by the Scottish Government, which allows us to proceed with our proposals to create a new electricity transmission link from the future Kergord substation and Gremisa GSP.

"Once this link is complete, it will form the crucial land connection between the Shetland HVDC subsea Link to the GB mainland and the local Shetland grid supply point at Gremista, connecting Shetland to the GB energy system for the first time. This will enable the supply of clean power to homes and businesses, even at times when local generation on Shetland's electricity distribution network does not meet demand.

"We will work to ensure our impact on the environment is carefully minimised at every opportunity, with robust mitigation measures in place to ensure we do everything we can to limit our impact wherever possible.

"We look forward to beginning the delivery phase of the project, and every effort to minimise any disruption during construction will be made. As a stakeholder-led business we'll continue to work closely with the local community and wider stakeholders to keep them updated as this project advances."