Overland powerlines to link Minch interconnector 29/8/13
Islanders will get a chance to view plans for a major electrical network project
to export renewable energy from wind and wave farms on Lewis to the mainland.
Crucial upgrades to the islands’ onshore energy infrastructure are required to link
into a future sub-sea cable running under the Minch connecting with the new Beauly
to Denny power lines.
A previous proposal to carry electricity from planned wind farms near Stornoway via
a sub-sea cable from Arnish to a huge convertor station in South Lochs appears to
have been dropped.
Instead, the latest option is to run miles of overhead 132,000 volt power lines on
wooden poles on what is called the Western Route following the main road to Laxay.
At Soval the existing line would be buried underground in the road verge and the
new lines installed in their place.
A cable link would be laid across the the Loch Erisort sealoch to Kershader before
continuing on overhead poles to a new convertor station above the crofting village
of Gravir.
Power lines would be buried underground at Loch Erisort approaches as well as on
a final stretch in Gravir.
The utility company also plans to rebuild and extend the Stornoway Grid substation
and control building at the Creed River located by the Arnish road junction about
mile outside Stornoway.
The whole project depends on the final go-ahead and funding agreement for the much
delayed £780 million interconnector - which would run from the Gravir substation
under the Minch to the mainland - from energy regulator Ofgem.
SSE said it is developing more information and aims to re-submit the business needs
case to Ofgem this autumn.
Public information sessions will be held at Kershader in South Lochs on Tuesday as
well as at Leurbost Community Hall the following day.
Members of the project team will be available to discuss the proposals and to answer
questions relating to the project.