Public consultation goes online for Leylodge substation
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Due to the current pandemic Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have had to cancel their upcoming public meeting to discuss their proposals for a new 400kV at Leylodge, Kintore.
On March 3 SSEN held a public consultation in Kintore regarding proposals to submit a new planning application for a 400kV Air Insulated Swtichgear (AIS) substation at Leylodge, Kintore.
At this consultation they committed to returning to the area before submitting a planning application to present further information on alternative solutions to the currently consented proposal.
Due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and in line with Scottish Government guidance, they cannot host a secondary public meeting on this matter so in lieu of this they have created an additional information brochure showing the intention to submit planning for a 400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation and the details of the proposal.
A spokesman explained: "Since our March consultation we have been working through more detailed considerations with respect to installing a GIS solution.
"Our consultation feedback has provided a strong indication that a GIS option would be preferred over traditional AIS solutions.
"In balance with this feedback, we have considered elements of its feasibility, including building orientation, positioning, dimensions and how it interacts with our existing infrastructure.
"Our commitments to reach a Network for Net Zero has also been a key factor in the design evolution.
"The lower carbon switchgear options that are available to us make use of GIS technology.
"GIS substations have the considerable advantage of a much reduced scale of equivalent infrastructure.
"Recent advancements and innovation of switchgear technology has provided SHE Transmission with an opportunity to consider a lower carbon potential GIS substation.
"This would allow SHETransmission to not only deliver a core part of infrastructure in a responsible, environmentally conscious manner, but also to reduce the size of our substation footprint and extent of the associated works, which would have been proposed under an AIS solution.
"As a result we have been able to balance all of these considerations into the design we are proposing."
The information brochure can be downloaded from the Project documentation section, and they would encourage all interested parties to please read this information and submit any feedback either online or directly to the Community Liaison Manager; Gary Donlin by June 5 via gary.donlin@sse.com
The brochure also includes details on their project, including updates based on recommendations from their previous consultation meeting in March.
Project information can be accessed here: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/kintore-400kv-substation where responses can also be made.
