SSEN Transmission has received approval from Highland Council’s South Planning Committee for the extension of its Fort Augustus substation at Auchterawe, marking a significant step in upgrading Scotland’s electricity transmission network.
The extension is part of the larger Beauly-Denny 400kV uprating project, which aims to enhance the capacity of the electricity grid across northern Scotland. The project will increase the capacity of one of the existing overhead line circuits on the Beauly-Denny line from 275kV to 400kV, enabling more efficient transmission of electricity. This will involve the construction of new substations at Beauly (Fanellan), Fasnakyle (Bingally), and Braco (Cambushinnie), alongside the extension at Fort Augustus.
The Beauly-Denny uprating project is an essential component of SSEN Transmission’s £20 billion Pathway to 2030 investment program, which aims to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure. The upgrades are being advanced under Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework.
Approval for the Fort Augustus substation extension represents a major milestone in the effort to enhance the electricity infrastructure of northern Scotland, supporting the country’s renewable energy and energy security goals. The project is expected to play a key role in Scotland’s clean energy transition.
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, commented on the approval: “We will now take time to assess the conditions applied by the Council as we prepare to move into the development phase of the project, where we are committed to work constructively with the local community and businesses to maximise the opportunities that our investment will bring.
