Plans for a £400 million electricity line to ensure that the lights stay on in homes across Skye and the Western Isles have been submitted to regulators.
The proposals would involve replacing the transmission network between Skye and Fort Augustus on the mainland. The Western Isles would also be affected as they are mainly supplied by subsea cables from Ardmore on Skye.
Some of the infrastructure dates back to the 1950s and is said to no longer be sufficient for modern needs.
The plan will include upgrading substations and replacing many of the existing wooden poles with more robust metal pylons. As well as ensuring a stable supply the network would have enough capacity for more electricity from new wind farms. The existing line has exceeded its capacity, meaning that no new schemes can be connected.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission, which is part of the utility SSE, confirmed yesterday it had submitted an initial needs case to Ofgem, the energy regulator.
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Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said: “The project is essential to maintain and improve network reliability and security of supply, whilst also supporting local and national efforts to tackle the climate emergency and deliver a pathway to net zero emissions.”
A consultation on the detailed design and route is to be launched this month. A similar survey last year raised concerns about the visual impact of metal pylons as well as effects on wildlife.