en.Wedoany.com Reported - SSEN Transmission has unveiled its East Coast grid upgrade plan, proposing to dismantle approximately 82 kilometres of old 132kV overhead lines between Aberdeenshire and Angus, replace two substations, and build a new 275kV substation to secure local electricity supply and support the connection of clean energy to the grid.
Built around 70 years ago and supported by over 550 steel towers and wood poles, this line is nearing the end of its operational life. Dismantling this infrastructure will maintain grid reliability and reduce the cumulative impact of current and proposed overhead line projects. To facilitate the dismantling, the Fiddes and Bridge of Dun substations will be replaced and reconnected to the existing transmission network, with new sites located near the old ones and of a comparable scale. The original sites will be dismantled following the removal of the overhead lines. A new connection will be established from the Fiddes substation to the upgraded Fetteresso 132kV substation near Stonehaven; the upgrade proposal for Fetteresso has already been submitted to meet local load growth and the electrification needs of the East Coast mainline railway.
Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission plans to build a new 275kV East Coast Substation in the Brechin and Edzell area, connecting it via a new access point to the existing 275kV line between Kintore and Tealing. Additionally, a new Bridge of Dun substation will be built and connected to the East Coast Substation via a 132kV overhead line or underground cable.
Public consultations for the Fiddes and Bridge of Dun substation projects are scheduled for later this year. The East Coast Substation consultation events are arranged for May 2026, with specific sessions as follows: Monday, 25th May, 2pm to 7pm at Edzell Inglis Memorial Hall, Brechin; Tuesday, 26th May, 2pm to 7pm at Inchbare Strathbrock Parish Hall, Brechin; Wednesday, 27th May, 1pm to 6pm at Craigo Community Hall; Thursday, 28th May, 2pm to 7pm at Brechin City Hall, 9 Swan Street.
Alison Hall, Development Director at SSEN Transmission, stated that these early proposals, which include the removal of existing infrastructure, form part of critical grid upgrades that will support clean energy generation, enhance energy security, and deliver economic benefits. She emphasised that no final site or technology solutions have been decided yet, and public feedback will play a vital role in the planning process. She encouraged community members to attend the consultation events and provide their input.
In addition to the above projects, SSEN Transmission also plans to hold a consultation in early June on a separate project to upgrade the 275kV overhead line between Peterhead and Kintore in Northeast Scotland to 400kV operation. These projects are part of the company's plan to invest approximately £29 billion over the coming years to upgrade the transmission network in the north of Scotland. Proposals for a new substation in the South Formartine area and further consultation dates will be announced later this month, with a specific site yet to be determined.
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