Our 12 Impacts / Sites, Siting and Infrastructure / Performance 2007
Six windfarms and two biomass plants were connected to the electrical network by EnergyNetworks, enabling additional renewable capacity of 520 MW
Good progress was made with major projects to design an efficient upgrade to the transmission network in south west Scotland to which could potentially accommodate a further 800 MW of new renewable energy projects
Extensive site works commenced to construct two new substations at Coalburn and Elvanfoot, which are fundamental to enabling Scotland’s renewable energy aspirations by increasing the capacity of the Anglo-Scottish interconnector from 2,200 MW to 2,800 MW in 2010
Conducted reliability improvement work, such as automatic circuit reclosing, on 2,000 km of overhead lines
Rebuilt more than 200 km of 33 kV and 11 kV overhead lines
Delivered more than 2,300 Network Controllable Points, which allow faster, automated restoration of electricity supplies after a fault
Implemented a major security initiative in response to the national problem of copper theft from electricity substations
A programme of undergrounding parts of the network was implemented in Snowdonia National Park
Pioneered the use of a new wooden pole construction for use on 132 kV overhead lines instead of traditional steel towers
Planning Consent was granted for a new 25 MW biomass plant at Longannet Power Station by Fife Council in December 2007. For more information, see Waste and Resource Use
The Scottish Government granted consent for Harestanes Windfarm, a 213 MW development in Dumfriesshire. Consent was also granted for extensions to existing windfarms at Beinn an Tuirc in Argyll and Bute (38 MW) and Hagshaw Hill in South Lanarkshire (26 MW). For more information, see Provision of Energy
Commissioned Wether Hill Windfarm, an 18 MW project in Dumfriesshire, Wolf Bog, a 10 MW project in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland and acquired the remaining stakes in Carland Cross and Coal Clough windfarms. For more information, see Provision of Energy
Erected the first wind turbines at Whiteleee Windfarm near Glasgow, which at 322 MW, will be the largest onshore windfarm in Europe, and started construction at our 30 MW Greenknowes site in Perthshire
| Performance Targets 2007 | Outcome |
|---|---|
| No environmental prosecutions | Target met – no prosecution in 2007 |
- No environmental prosecutions
- Roll out of Environmental Management Plans into major projects in EnergyNetworks
Transmission Investment in Renewable Generation (TIRG)
EnergyNetworks is planning to invest around £1.5 billion over the next five years in upgrading the electricity grid to support new renewable energy projects. During 2007 we completed connections to a further 520 MW of renewable energy, and we expect to connect another 218 MW of renewable capacity to our electrical network in 2008. We are also progressing site works and designs for a range of other generation sites. The additional portfolio across our licensed areas in Scotland, England and Wales over the next few years could potentially be in excess of 4,500 MW.
Key areas of work in 2007 included:
- The Public Inquiry process into the construction of a 220 km line between Beauly, west of Inverness, to Denny, west of Falkirk dominated most of the year. The plan is to replace the existing 132 kV line with a 400 kV line to enable connection of the renewable potential in the north of Scotland, approximately 60% of which would be built on a route adjacent to the existing line. Around 10% of the line is in ScottishPower’s territory – the remainder in Scottish Hydro Electric’s area. EnergyNetworks would be required to build a new substation near Denny, as part of the project
- Work began on upgrades to the Anglo-Scottish interconnector – the power link between Scotland and England. The capacity of the interconnector is presently being upgraded from 2,200 MW to 2,800 MW. The major portion of the work invlolves two new substations being built at Coalburn and Elvanfoot and the line from Eccles to Stella conductor being upgraded
- Commenced public consultation on the new Coylton-Dalmellington-New Cumnock transmission line in Ayrshire. The project would provide grid connection for planned windfarms in the area with a potential total of 800 MW. We aim to lodge the Section 37 consent application in summer 2008 following the extensive consultation and environmental assessment process
- Commenced public consultation on the proposed new substation and 132 kV line that would connect Markshill and Arecleoch windfarms in south west Scotland with the Moyle interconnector (the power link between Scotland and Northern Ireland)
Network Controllable Points
During the year, we installed 2,300 Network Controllable Points, which enable faults on the network to be detected and supplies to customers restored quickly and automatically with no need to wait for an engineer to travel to site. For more information, see our Customer Experience Impact.
Substation Security
ScottishPower have teamed up with police forces in Merseyside and Cheshire, to increase the number of police patrols at substations, following a spate of copper thefts. This has become a widespread problem throughout Europe, due to rising metal prices. Thieves risk their lives and cause serious damage to substations to steal copper.
We are also one of the first utilities in the UK to mark copper with SmartWater, which provides proof of ownership. It is hoped the additional security measures will deter thieves and aid the Police authorities in tracing the owners of stolen copper they recover. The copper is dipped in or sprayed with a uniquely coded liquid which is almost impossible to remove. It works by coding items of property with a forensic solution, similar to DNA profiling.
Snowdonia National Park
We have placed two overhead lines that were running parallel for 11 km in Snowdonia National Park underground. One of the lines had been in place for 40 years and was at the end of its serviceable life. The circuit suffered from frequent interruptions during bad weather (a regular occurrence in Snowdonia) due to the close proximity of trees.
Whilst planning the re-build we agreed with local planning authorities and members of the Snowdonia National Park Authority that it would be more beneficial if the section running through the Coed –Y- Brenin forest, near Dolgellau was replaced with underground cable.
When carrying out this task we replaced another section of overhead line with underground cables. In total 22 kms of overhead line were replaced at a cost of approximately £1 million.
Sustainable Wooden Poles for 132 kV Transmission Lines
EnergyNetworks pioneered the design and the use of a new heavy duty wooden pole specification for the construction of 132 kV power lines. Following many months working on the design phase in collaboration with LS Transmission Consultancy, a trial line was built just south of Wrexham, north Wales, as part of Networks’ Innovation Funding Incentive research programme.
The location of windfarms usually means that new lines need to be built, often in remote and scenic areas, to carry the power to the grid. Traditional steel towers raise concerns over visual impact, so ScottishPower decided to research a viable alternative.
The timber for this trial was sourced from sustainable forests in Nordic countries, which are accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Nordic timber is strong enough to meet the resilience requirement of standard EN 50431
The new construction can carry a higher capacity than traditional wooden poles or steel towers and it includes an earth wire, with embedded optical fibre to enable communications.
Like steel towers, the new poles can be used at altitudes of up to 400 metres – but they are approximately 12 metres lower in height which means they can be easily screened with trees.
The wooden poles are more aesthetically acceptable, cheaper and more environmentally sustainable than steel towers.
