Proposed Blackhillock Substation Expansion. Public Exhibition

Transcription

1 Proposed Blackhillock Substation Expansion Public Exhibition 9 February 2012

2 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Pre Application Consultation The proposals are for the redevelopment of the existing substation at Blackhillock to include 400, 275 and 132 kv capacity and an HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) Converter Station HVDC converter stations are required to convert alternating current (AC) electricity to high voltage direct current (DC) and vice versa The proposals are classed as a Major Project because they are >2hectares and have buildings with floor space >5000m 2 Pre Application Consultation is a statutory requirement for Major Projects This exhibition is part of a consultation process to provide you with information and the opportunity to comment on the proposals at Blackhillock

3 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Need for the Project The upgrade of the electricity network in the north mainland of Scotland is necessary to meet increasing demand for connection opportunities for renewable energy projects, including connection of an HVDC cable from Shetland and the Outer Moray Firth We are working with consultants to develop proposals for an expansion of the Blackhillock Substation near Keith, in Moray. The proposals have been developed to achieve a reasonable balance between technical, economic and environmental considerations Part of the project (a platform for development and a converter station) has outline planning permission from the Moray Council. Further development of the original proposals has led to the need for a new application

4 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Project Context The process leading to these proposals began when windfarm projects in Shetland and other locations applied to connect to the mainland electricity network. SHETL is required to provide this connection as part of its licence obligations The Blackhillock proposals form part of wider proposals to upgrade the electricity transmission network in the north mainland of Scotland to meet increased demand The proposed improvements to the transmission system include: a converter station in Shetland; a subsea HVDC cable to Portgordon and an underground cable to Blackhillock a converter station at Spittal in Caithness; an underground HVDC cable to the coast north of Wick; a subsea connection to a hub in the Outer Moray Firth and connection into the Shetland cable to Blackhillock Wick Shetland Offshore Hub Portgordon Blackhillock Example of a converter station Offshore Hub

5 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: About the Project The expanded substation site at Blackhillock is an essential component of the upgrades to the transmission infrastructure It will accommodate the requirements of various renewable generation projects throughout the north of Scotland, including energy from Shetland N

6 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Where will it be? Inverness Keith U43(H) A96 Huntly Key: Existing Substation Boundary Substation Expansion Boundary N Crown Copyright, All rights reserved Licence number

7 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Development and Planning Process To gain approval for the Blackhillock Substation expansion work to proceed, the following development and planning process is being followed: Initial Feasibility and Initial Environmental Assessment + Layouts and Site Configuration + Environmental Constraint Assessment Public Consultation Environmental Impact Assessment Planning and Other Development Consent Applications + Consultation with Council and statutory consultees + Consultation with stakeholders + PAC process + Planning and Policy + Landuse, Property and Agriculture + Geology, Soils and Contaminated Land + Water Quality and Drainage + Landscape and Visual Impacts + Ecology and Nature Conservation + Archaeology and Cultural Heritage + Traffic and Access + Noise and Vibration + Air Quality Discharging Conditions + Including collation of a Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) Construction and Operation

8 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Temporary Associated Works To assist the development works at Blackhillock, temporary associated works also need to take place These will be subject to a separate application under the Electricity Act 1989 Temporary Transmission Line Diversion: For works to commence on the proposed substation expansion, the existing Knocknagael (Inverness) transmission line is to be diverted to allow equipment and machinery to operate safely during construction Image of current line route The current transmission line enters the site to the north and feeds into the substation from this location Crown Copyright, All rights reserved Licence number Image of line diversion The line will be diverted, and temporary structures put in place. The temporary line will route to the east of the substation site and run behind Gibston Steading. It will then turn to the west and feed into the substation to the south of the existing site access Crown Copyright, All rights reserved Licence number Image of final route of line Once development works are complete, the temporary line will be re diverted to enter the site from its current location Crown Copyright, All rights reserved Licence number

9 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: What s Next? The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be completed with mitigation measures agreed as part of this process. A planning application will then be submitted to the Moray Council in mid 2012 The application will be decided by The Moray Council after a further statutory consultation period when the plans and EIA will be available. You will have an opportunity to comment to the Council at this stage If granted planning consent, the project would be constructed once any conditions the Council have placed on us have been fully met After construction, a 40 year lifespan is estimated for the substation, after which time assessments will be made as to the best course of action for the plant: full decommissioning or upgrades to extend the operational lifespan

10 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: How to Comment It is important that we get our proposal for the Blackhillock Substation Expansion right. That is why we want to hear from anybody, whether an individual or organisation, who has a view on that proposal Here is how you can have your say: Comment Sheets: there are comment sheets at the entrance. Please fill one in and put it in the comments box by the door, or write to: SSE Ms Lisa Kelly Major Projects Communications Manager, Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ any comments to blackhillock@sse.com All comments must be received by Thursday 1 st March by 5pm Progress on the project will be updated on our website: Please note that comments made at this stage will be reported (not specifically attributed) in the Pre Application Consultation Report but they are not representations to the planning authority. If the application is submitted there will be an opportunity to make representations on that application to the Planning Service at The Moray Council.

11 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Project Team SSE is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity, in the production, storage, distribution and supply of gas and in other energy services. SSE: generate electricity in power stations, hydro electric schemes and wind farms; produce gas through interests in North Sea production; deliver electricity to homes, offices and businesses via overhead lines and underground cables; deliver gas to homes, offices and businesses through a 50% share of Scotia Gas Networks; retail (or supply) electricity, gas and related home services; own and operate gas storage capacity; provide mechanical and electrical contracting and engineering services; and own and operate telecoms network capacity. SHETL, as a subsidiary of SSE, owns and maintains the 400kV, 275kV and 132kV electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland Natural Capital is an established environmental and sustainability consultancy, with experience in providing environmental and sustainability advice and assessments. The team together has many years of consultancy experience of environmental management, assessment and planning. Project experience is wide ranging and includes energy transmission projects and renewables as well as best practice guidance. We are working with URS Consultants (engineering, landscape and visual, noise and traffic) on this project

12 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: The Proposals The Blackhillock substation expansion proposals include: construction of an extended development platform an HVDC converter station located in a building 400kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) in a building 132kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS) in a building 275kV air insulated switchgear (AIS) on the open platform two 400/275kV and four 275/132kV transformers a control room a storage building ancillary electrical equipment to facilitate connections with the proposed HVDC cable from Shetland and the grid demolition of the existing substation The current substation site boundary will be expanded within agricultural and forest land at Blackhillock. The expanded substation site area will be ~28ha. The HVDC converter station building will be ~113m x 51m with a height to the eaves of 17m. The 400kV GIS building will be ~100m x 27m x 20m. The 132kV GIS building will be ~38m x 17m x 9m The HVDC converter station will have a capacity of 1200 Megawatts (MW) and will receive DC electricity from new renewable energy schemes and convert this to AC electricity, which in turn will be connected to the grid through the redeveloped substation In addition, separate applications will be made for: establishment of the temporary construction compound and facilities for construction workers improvements to the public road (the U43(H)) Key: Existing Blackhillock Substation site boundary Proposed Blackhillock Substation site boundary and temporary construction compound N

13 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Key Findings of the EIA to Date Key Constraints ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process used to identify significant environmental effects and to identify measures to avoid, reduce and remedy these Key Findings of the EIA to Date: Construction will impact on grazing/ arable farmland and a small portion of rotational forestry Need to protect water quality in diverted ditch/ drain Opportunities to be developed which will screen and integrate the new HVDC building into the countryside Nature conservation and ecology interests can be conserved and impacts mitigated No direct impacts to any recorded or visible archaeological remains Crown Copyright, All rights reserved Licence number Developing design taking into account potential for noise effects

14 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Traffic Implications PUBLIC ROAD ACCESS TO SITE Blackhillock Substation Expansion site Blackhillock Substation U43(H) U43(H) access to site from the A96 showing proposed road widening and passing places Construction Traffic Route The proposed route for all construction traffic would be via the A96 and the U43(H) PHOTO LOCATIONS To accommodate construction traffic, some carriageway widening and provision of passing places will be carried out on the U43(H) A The presence of slow moving construction plant on the road network may cause some short term and minor disruption to road users 3. A Traffic Management Plan will include mitigation measures to reduce disruption to road users and any impacts on roadside communities LOCATIONS WHERE ROAD WIDENING MAY BE REQUIRED PREDICTED MAXIMUM DAILY TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS: CIVIL ENGINEERING: 20 Light Vehicles/ Day 20 Heavy Vehicles/ Day ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS: 20 Light Vehicles/ Day 10 Heavy Vehicles/ Day EXISTING SUBSTATION DEMOLITION: 10 Light Vehicles / Day 6 Heavy Vehicles/ Day

15 Blackhillock Substation Expansion: Phasing of the Works The works are expected to take four years to complete. The phasing of these works is currently programmed as follows: Construction and Installation Planning and Consent Applications 2012 Civil Engineering (earthworks, building construction, vegetation removal etc.) Electrical Engineering (installation of electrical equipment) Substation Removal (demolition of existing substation and compound, access etc.) Landscaping Operation 2016 onwards Reinstatement and Landscaping Works (including reinstatement of the construction compound) 2016

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