OREANDA-NEWS. January 11, 2016. A project to build a new substation in Argyll and allow for the connection of 43MW of renewable power has been completed by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHE Transmission).

Consent for the A’Cruach wind farm necessitated a connection in to the electricity network and therefore required a new 132/33kV substation at Crarae, near Minard along with a new tower being built and a temporary diversion of the existing overhead line.

The ?7.5m project took just 15 months to complete with a total workforce of around 150 colleagues and as it also allows for alternative distribution routes north and south of the substation, it reinforces the network in the Argyll and Bute area.

SHE Transmission Major Projects Manager Ian Flannagan explains more: “This project has seen us living and working in Argyll for almost a year and a half, and in that time we’ve been able to link in with the local community through their network of businesses, shops and accommodation – we also used a local supplier to provide the 300 cubic metres of concrete and 15,000 tonnes of crushed stone as part of the build.

“We’ve worked closely with local residents to seek their views on how best to progress and it was through this process that we identified the Crarae site as being the best location for the substation and the one which would cause the least disruption. The layout of the substation was also reconfigured to help protect the environment and early next year further landscaping will be carried out to screen the site.

“I’d really like to thank everyone in the area for welcoming us and for being so accommodating during this project.”

To find out more about the project, please go to https://www.ssepd.co.uk/Crarae/