Controversial Beauly to Denny power line goes live
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Electricity is now flowing through the entire length of the controversial Beauly - Denny pylon line.
The line, described as a power super-highway between the Highlands and the central belt, has been successfully energised and is now operating at up to 400kv.
It has split opinion along its route with objectors claiming it had blighted some of our most scenic areas.
The 190 mile replacement overhead line was developed jointly by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHE Transmission) and SP Energy Networks, which own and invest in the high voltage electricity networks in the north and south of Scotland respectively.
The new line is supported by 615 steel towers, replacing more than 800 pre-existing 132 kv towers that were built in the early 1950s.
The renewal of the north-south spine of Scotland’s electricity network has supported more than 2000 jobs over a seven years. It is the longest transmission line to be built anywhere in the UK in recent times and crosses the highest and most inaccessible terrain on the Great Britain transmission system at the 2526ft summit of the Corrieyairack Pass.
Dave Gardner, director of transmission at SHE Transmission said: "The full energisation of Beauly-Denny represents an extraordinary achievement by a cast of hundreds who have worked all year round, often in challenging conditions, to get the job done. It is a remarkable feat of engineering and a testament to their commitment and skill.
"Now energised in its entirety, the line provides a fully functioning power super-highway between the Highlands and the central belt. It is unlocking Scotland’s renewable resources, supporting economic growth in the Highlands and helping to meet the energy challenge facing the country as a whole."
Mr Gardner added: "We recognise that the project has often divided opinion. There is still significant work ongoing to reinstate access tracks, complete mitigation measures and remove the final sections of the pre-existing overhead line. Once all work is complete in 2016, we hope the new line will become as familiar a part of the landscape as its predecessor was – and, most importantly, will play its part in keeping the lights on all over the country for many decades to come."
The new Beauly-Denny line, with simultaneous renewal of wires on the main existing overhead line between the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, has so far enabled the connection of 80 additional wind, hydro and solar generation developments in the north of Scotland, which are expected to have a combined installed capacity of over 1460MW by the end of 2015.
Helen McDade of the wild land charity the John Muir Trust said that the new line had a "major impact" on the landscape, particularly the tracks that were built to put the major pylons in.
She added: "One of the planning conditions was that these tracks would be removed and that’s not happening in a lot of places, so its had a big impact environmentally."
