Who are SP Energy Networks?
SP Energy Networks is part of the ScottishPower Group. We are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in central and southern Scotland, and, through SP Manweb, the distribution network in North Wales and part of North West England. Our role is to maintain, operate and invest in our network to secure a safe, reliable, and economic service for current and future consumers.
What statutory obligations does SP Energy Networks have?
Our statutory obligations are set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in our transmission licence. We must develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system in accordance with security and quality of supply standards. We must offer to connect new power generators to the system and, make sure any work we do keeps disturbance to the natural and built environment and the people who live in it, work in it or enjoy it to a minimum.
Who regulates SP Energy Networks?
We are regulated by Ofgem (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets), and independent national regulatory body. Further information about Ofgem is available on:
Why is Eastern Green Link 4 needed?
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy and have targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2045 in Scotland and 2050 in the UK.
As the country shifts away from traditional forms of fuel to heat homes, charge vehicles and power businesses, there is greater need for clean electricity. By the end of this decade, the UK Government also aims for every home in the country to be powered by offshore wind and has set a 50GW offshore wind connections target by the early 2030s.
Much of the new offshore and onshore wind is in or around Scotland, and the existing electricity network does not have enough capacity to transmit all the additional clean, green energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed.
Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) will be able to transmit up to 2GW of clean, green renewable energy – enough to power around 1.5 million homes. It is one of four Eastern Green Link HVDC projects that will significantly increase the capacity of the electricity network between Scotland and England.
What exactly are you proposing?
EGL4 is a major investment developed in partnership between SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission, and is made up of three parts:
- A 500km subsea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable between Kinghorn, Fife, and South Humber, Lincolnshire
- A 14km underground cable from Kinghorn to a new converter station at Westfield, near Ballingry, Fife
- A 100km underground cable from South Humber to a new converter station near Walpole, Norfolk
- HVDC is the most efficient way to transmit large amounts of electricity over long distances.
Converter stations are needed at each end to change the DC (direct current) electricity to and from AC (alternating current) electricity, so it’s safe to use in our homes and businesses.
We will also need to install short sections of AC underground cable to connect the converter stations to existing substations.
How much will the project cost?
It is early days and we won’t be able to cost the project fully until we have a definite proposal.
Who will pay for this project?
Ultimately, the cost of our investment in the electricity system is partly borne by consumers through electricity bills, so we are obliged to be economic and efficient. We recover our costs through transmission charges levied by National Grid.
The amount we invest in our networks and the amount we are able to recover is agreed with Ofgem, which is committed to working with industry, governments and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers. You can find out more about Ofgem here.
Who gives you permission to construct EGL4?
For the onshore works in Scotland, SP Energy Networks will be applying to Fife Council for planning permission in principle (PiP) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the proposed converter station, and full planning permission for the DC underground cable from the Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS) at the landfall site to the converter station and for the AC underground cable from the converter station to Westfield Substation. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report will accompany our planning application to Fife Council.
The proposed marine subsea cables that form part of the EGL4 project will require a marine licence for installation. The project is not required by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Marine Scotland to have an EIA completed or produce an Environmental Statement as part of the licence application. However, the applications for a marine licence will still consist of the same level of environmental assessment and will be supported by a Marine Environmental Appraisal (MEA).
The onshore works in England are being developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET).
How did SPEN select its preferred converter station site, cable route and landfall site?
SPEN follows established procedures for the routeing of overhead lines and underground cables, and the siting of substations and other infrastructure, taking into account environmental and technical considerations. This process is explained in our document Approach to Routeing and Environmental Impact Assessment, which is available on our website here.
Our approach for EGL4 onshore works in Scotland had two main steps; firstly, the identification and assessment of alternative landfall and converter station sites (‘siting’) and secondly the identification and assessment of alternative underground cable routes (‘routeing’).
When identifying and appraising potential landfall sites – where subsea cables come ashore and join on to underground cables – we must consider both onshore and offshore factors in our environmental and technical assessments. This ensures that any shortlisted landfall options are not only feasible, but also allow for onward routeing of onshore and offshore cables.
You can find full details of our routeing and siting assessment in our Routeing and Consultation Document here.
How did you identify the preferred marine cable route?
SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) jointly carried out a Marine Route Options Appraisal to identify and appraise potential marine cable routes, considering environmental, technical, socio-economic and cost factors.
The appraisal of several potential marine cable route alignments led to a preferred option, on which we are now consulting with fisheries, shipping and marine organisations.
You can find full details of how the options were identified and appraised in our Marine Route Options Appraisal Non-Technical Summary, which is available on our website here.
Why does the converter station need to be at Westfield?
Westfield is the starting point for EGL4 because it is a strong point on our existing transmission network which is closest to the Fife coast. The Westfield substation is currently a 275kV substation but will be rebuilt in the future as a 400kV substation. We need to have suitable network connectivity at the substation to provide the strongest support for the HVDC link. Westfield substation is the only substation in this area that provides this level of network connectivity and security with four circuit infeeds.
How big will the converter station be and what will it look like?
The converter station will be made up of large warehouse-type buildings and outside electrical equipment. The total converter station footprint will be approximately 250m x 350m in size with buildings up to 28.5m in height, to accommodate the equipment needed.
We will also need temporary construction and parking areas, and underground cables to connect the converter station to the existing substation. Our plans will include landscaping and tree-planting to help screen the site, reduce its visual effects and increase biodiversity.
Why is Kinghorn your preferred landfall site?
We selected Kinghorn as the landfall site after careful appraisal of a number of potential options along the Fife coast, including at Largo Bay and Buckhaven. Bringing the cables ashore at Kinghorn allows a shorter onshore cable route to Westfield (around 14km from Kinghorn compared to around 29km from Largo Bay) and avoids centres of population, thereby minimising disturbance to local communities.
You can find full details of how we identified and appraised potential landfall sites and cable routes in our Routeing and Consultation Document here.
What work will take place at the landfall site?
The subsea cables will be installed at the landfall site below ground using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) to minimise any impact on the sensitive coastal environment and protected sites, and avoiding disturbance to the seal haul-out area to the north.
The subsea cables will be joined to underground cables in a buried pit. Once installation is complete, the ground will be reinstated and no permanent above-ground infrastructure will be visible.
The preferred cable route between Westfield and Kinghorn is very wide in places. Will you need all this land?
At this stage we are consulting landowners and local people about where the cables could be routed within our ‘preferred route corridor’ – a swathe of land between Westfield and Kinghorn.
The actual ‘working width’ of land we will need for underground cable installation will only be about 40 metres across.
How will you decide the final underground cable route and the sites for the converter station and landfall?
The routeing and siting of infrastructure is a complex process, requiring a balance to be struck between statutory obligations, engineering requirements, economic viability, the environment, and people who live, work, enjoy recreation and pass through it.
We are following established guidelines for routeing and siting, which combine in-depth environmental studies with technical and economic factors. A key part of this is consultation with landowners, stakeholders and the public to inform the development of the project.
Following this first round of consultation we will develop detailed plans for the converter station, landfall site and underground cable routes. We will publish a report summarising the feedback received in this first round of consultation and how this has influenced our proposals.
We will then carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment and hold a second round of public consultation, so that people can give us their views on our detailed proposals, before we finalise and submit planning applications.
How will the underground cables be installed?
The cables will be installed in a trench where possible. Where the route crosses under the A92, the Fife Circle Railway Line and watercourses, we will install them below ground using trenchless technology such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). This technology may also be used to pass safely under other features such as large areas of woodland if we cannot route around them.
We recognise that construction work can cause temporary inconvenience and disturbance, but we believe our preferred route will keep this to a minimum. Once the cables are installed the land will be reinstated and there will be no visible above-ground infrastructure.
How are you consulting local people, and what happens next?
The first round of consultation, which runs until Friday 10 May 2024, is to seek people’s views on our preferred route for the underground cables and our preferred sites for the converter station and landfall.
Following this first round of consultation we will develop a detailed design for the landfall, converter station and cable route, including locations for access routes and working areas. We will publish a report summarising the feedback received in this first round of consultation and how this has
influenced our plans. We will then carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and hold a second round of public consultation on the detailed designs.
SP Energy Networks will be applying to Fife Council for planning permission in principle (PiP) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the proposed converter station, and full planning permission for the DC underground cable from the Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS) at the landfall site to the converter station and for the AC underground cable from the converter station to
Westfield Substation. The EIA Report will accompany the planning application to Fife Council.
Are you consulting landowners?
Yes, we have contacted all owners and occupiers of land that might be affected by our proposals. If you believe that your land may be affected and you have not yet heard from us, please contact us.