03 - Why does the line need to be built?
SHETL and SPT are licensed electricity transmission companies and have a duty under the Electricity Act 1989 to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity transmission and to facilitate competition in supply and generation of electricity.
The levels of renewable generation that developers are contracting to connect to transmission and distribution networks are such that the existing transmission capacity is insufficient. The replacement transmission line will provide more reliable and less constrained electricity network capacity for around 2,500MW (megawatts) of renewable energy capacity in the north of Scotland, and will form a basis for growth in the long term.
The significance of such growth has been confirmed by recent Ministerial statements. In November 2007, the Scottish government announced a new target to generate 50% of Scotland’s electricity from renewables by 2020, and the UK Government confirmed that it is committed to the EU target for 20% of all energy requirements being met from renewable sources by 2020.
A GfK NOP poll commissioned by Scottish Renewables asked Scots in November 2005 their opinions about renewable energy and the importance of the electricity network. 76% agreed that it is important that the national grid accommodates new renewable schemes.
Rebuilding the weakest leg (Beauly-Denny) of the north of Scotland transmission ring allows the other elements of that ring to be strengthened through relatively uncontentious re-conductoring and re-insulation work on existing tower routes, and substation extensions (i.e. no new major overhead line routes). This in total will release the capacity for renewable generation in the north to some 6.4GW (cf 2.2GW already connected). These next projects have been identified in the government’s National Planning Framework for Scotland. The reinforced ring facilitates collection of the output from onshore developments and the identified sub sea island links for Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney that are proposed for connection onto the reinforced transmission system.
