National Grid and ScottishPower Transmission (SP Transmission) are inviting local people to comment on plans for a new 2000 megawatt subsea power cable that will bring renewable energy from Scotland to England and Wales.
The companies are working together to deliver a major project to build a 400km high voltage circuit which will run predominantly under the sea from Scotland to England/Wales.
The new circuit will enable the transfer of large volumes of energy from Scotland directly to England and Wales through subsea cables, by-passing the constraints on the existing transmission system. Scotland traditionally generates more electricity than it consumes and as new renewable energy projects continue to come on-line, it is anticipated that exports will increase.
Andy Hiorns, Project Director said: “This is an incredibly important project for the UK – it will help the country to meet its climate change commitments.”
It is proposed that the new circuit will begin at Hunterston, in Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland and will run through the Irish Sea to the tip of the Wirral peninsula on Merseyside. Here, it will travel across the Wirral to Connah’s Quay in North Wales.
Equipment will be constructed at Hunterston and at Connah’s Quay to connect the new cable into the national grid electricity transmission system. Local people are being invited to public consultation events next month to find out more about the plans.
The events will take place between 2pm and 8pm as follows:
- Monday 07 February: Town Council Offices, Quay Building, Fron Road, Connah’s Quay, CH5 4JP
- Tuesday 08 February: Neston Community and Youth Centre, Burton Road, Neston, CH64 9RE
- Wednesday 09 February: Moreton Community Centre, Maryland Lane, Moreton, CH46 7TS
- Friday 11 February: Seamill Hydro, Seamill, Ayrshire, KA23 9NB
Renewable energy forms a major element of the UK’s approach to combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions and this project will support the UK Government to meet the agreed EU target that 15% of the UK’s energy will be produced from renewable sources by 2020.
To develop their plans, National Grid and SP Transmission are working closely with the local councils and nature conservation agencies, as well as local environmental groups and landowners to develop an effective proposal which minimised the impact on the environmental and local communities.
Consultation will also be carried out with local communities around the sites at Hunterston and Connah’s Quay and along the proposed cable route on the Wirral, and the views of local people will be taken into account in developing the final plans.
“We are committed to working with local communities,” said Mr Hiorns. “We are keen to speak to as many people as we can and hear as many views as possible.
“The first public consultations are due to start at the beginning of February and we hope that all residents who want to hear more about this important project come along.”
The full announcement is available here.