Rewiring Scotland
Over the coming years we will see significant changes in the way that electricity is generated. The expansion of renewable technologies including onshore and offshore wind means that the existing network needs to be modernised. Each new generation project must be connected to the national transmission and distribution network to ensure the electricity generated is delivered to the centres of demand.
Formed in November 2005 as part of Energy Networks, the Renewables Delivery Group is designing and building four major infrastructure projects that will support renewable developments and public policy targets. Already they have provided reliable network connections for the two largest windfarms in the UK.
Over the next 5 years we are investing £400 million
to deliver the following projects:
- Building a new overhead line from the north of Coylton to the west of New Cumnock in Ayrshire, with a new substation at New Cumnock. If the level of connected renewables increases, there may be a need in future to extend this line to provide another key link to the south
- Upgrading to 400 kV the existing overhead West Coast Interconnector from Strathaven to Harker, with new substations at Coalburn and Elvanfoot plus modifications to substations at Strathaven, Linnmill and Gretna
- Building a new Beauly to Denny North overhead line in conjunction with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). ScottishPower's component of the project is the final 20 km stretch of line plus building a new substation at Denny
- Reinforcement of the existing transmission infrastructure in the Borders - particularly the circuits from Eccles, near Coldstream, to Stella West Substation (within the National Grid area)
ScottishPower has established a series of project delivery partnerships aimed at ensuring the effective delivery of these planned improvements.
For instance, the project to upgrade the West Coast Interconnector will be delivered by a consortium between ScottishPower and leading engineering group Balfour Beatty. The consortium will prepare the design and engineering phases with a view to gaining all appropriate consents, while sharing efficiencies and maximising opportunities for standardisation and innovation.
Meanwhile, the Renewables Delivery Group is planning for the volume of new transmission and distribution connections for renewable projects to treble in coming years as new windfarm developments come on stream.
In 2005/06, the Renewables Delivery Group completed five new transmission and distribution connections:
- Transmission connections for Hadyard Hill Windfarm, a Scottish and Southern Energy development near Girvan, Ayrshire; and ScottishPower's Black Law Windfarm near Forth, at 97 MW one of the largest onshore windfarms in the UK
- Distribution connections for Dalswinton Windfarm, an Airtricity site near Dumfries; ScottishPower's Wether Hill Windfarm, an 18 MW site in Dumfriesshire; and Wardlaw Wood, a community wind power development at Kilbirnie, Ayrshire
Meanwhile in May 2006, the group had three further distribution connections in progress - at Blackhall Windfarm near Duns; Earlsburn near Denny; and Stevens Croft, a biomass plant in Lockerbie.
Going forward, a further 27 distribution connections and 23 transmission connections are at various stages of the planning process, including ScottishPower's Whitelee Windfarm, south of Glasgow, at 322 MW the largest wind power development in Europe.
The Renewables Delivery Group is investigating innovative new working methods and liaising closely with key suppliers, customers and communities to ensure the efficient delivery of projects while keeping safety at the top of the agenda with public and employee safety paramount.
