Ofgem has launched a consultation on a proposal for £205m of funding to reinforce the transmission infrastructure between the Kintyre peninsula and Hunterston.
If approved, the funding would provide for SHE Transmission (the transmission arm of SSE) to deliver two subsea cables that will reinforce the link between the Kintyre peninsula and the rest of the transmission system in Scotland. They will also upgrade existing overhead lines between Crossaig and Carradale and build a new substation at Crossaig.
These reinforcements to the high voltage electricity system are required to both accommodate the growth of renewable generation in Kintyre and ensure the robustness of the transmission system in this area. SHE Transmission would be required to complete the upgrades in 2016.
The consultation on funding is the first to be issued under Ofgem’s Strategic Wider Works (SWW) programme. SWW was introduced as part of the RIIO-T1 price control to consider funding for specific major transmission projects on a case by case basis. This is to ensure that projects are delivered in a timely manner.
