SSEN Transmission has announced that more than £10m of community benefit funding will be generated by the business’s Skye Reinforcement project, which will replace the existing overhead line between Fort Augustus and Skye.
The existing overhead line is fast reaching the end of its operational life and its replacement is critical to maintaining network reliability and security of supply for homes and businesses in Skye and along the line’s route, as well as in the Western Isles which is currently supplied by two subsea electricity distribution cables from north Skye.
The ‘Skye Reinforcement’ – which received its overhead line planning consent from the Scottish Government in June – will boost energy security and enable renewable connections to the grid.
Watch: Learn more about the Skye Reinforcement project
Under the UK Government’s initial community benefit guidance for electricity transmission infrastructure – published by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) in April – the only element of the project that would have generated funding was the new substations at Edinbane and Broadford. This would have been £1.06m in total, comprised of £530,000 per substation.
However, in response to representations made by SSEN Transmission and others – including local cross-party elected members – DESNZ announced in August that they will update its guidance.
This revised guidance will widen the scope to include capacity upgrade projects, where existing wooden pole lines are replaced with steel lattice towers, such as the Skye Reinforcement project.
This made the Skye project eligible for community benefit funding for the two sections of the line where the existing wooden poles will be replaced by steel towers, at the recommended level of £200,000 per kilometre. This equates to:
* 28.2km between Broadford to Edinbane: £5.64m
* 18.4km from Invergarry to Quoich Switching Station: £3.68m
In addition, SSEN Transmission expects the upgrade work being carried out at Fort Augustus substation to also qualify as eligible and contribute an additional £530,000 to the total pot.
Together with the £1m+ for the substations, this adds up to a total of £10.91m generated by the Skye Reinforcement project.
In line with SSEN Transmission’s governance for community benefit funding, half of this – £5.46m – will be dedicated to a new Skye Reinforcement Local Fund for communities located from Fort Augustus to Ardmore, throughout the whole project area. The other half will be included in SSEN Transmission’s Regional Community Benefit Fund for the north of Scotland transmission area, which communities along the Skye to Fort Augustus line can also apply to.
The Skye Reinforcement Local Fund will be consulted upon with local stakeholders once the final community benefit fund guidance has been published – with discussions covering areas such as eligibility criteria to reflect community priorities and alignment with local plans, and the levels of grant that will be disbursed. The fund is expected to be formally launched in 2026.
The Regional Community Benefit Fund is currently open for the second round of awards, and more information is available here: SSEN Transmission launches second round of Community Benefit Fund across north of Scotland – SSEN Transmission
Gary Hughes, Economic Development Manager at SSEN Transmission said: “We are delighted that the UK Government agreed to change the community benefit guidance, which means that the funding generated by this project has been boosted tenfold – including a dedicated local fund for communities close to the Skye to Fort Augustus line. We would like to thank various cross-party elected representatives who helped make the case to the UK Government for this change.
“Between the local funds that SSEN Transmission is creating and our regional fund which is also available for projects in this and other areas, more than £100m will be generated for community benefit funding across the north of Scotland.
This is one of many positive legacies for local communities delivered as part of the investment in the region’s electricity infrastructure to help achieve energy security and clean power objectives.”
About the Skye Reinforcement Project
The Skye Reinforcement project involves reinforcing the high voltage electricity network from Ardmore on the Isle of Skye to Fort Augustus.
The existing, single circuit 132kV overhead line – sections of which were built in the 1950s – is fast reaching the end of its operational life. Its replacement is critical to maintaining network reliability and security of supply for homes and businesses in Skye and along the line’s route and in the Western Isles, which is currently supplied by two subsea electricity distribution cables from north Skye. The new replacement line will be a double circuit with the new steel lattice towers of a similar build and height as the existing towers on the line.
The existing overhead line is operating at its capacity limit, preventing the connection of renewable electricity in the area. While the voltage of the new line will stay the same, its replacement will have a greater capacity – enabling the connection of new renewable electricity generation – and will also further strengthen network reliability and security of supply.
The project will see around 160km of overhead line replaced, along with 24km of underground cable, substation upgrades at Dunvegan and Fort Augustus and substation extensions at Edinbane and Broadford.
The Skye Reinforcement project is part of a major programme of electricity transmission projects across the north of Scotland that are part of SSEN Transmission’s plans to invest at least £22bn in the coming years.
This investment will see the construction of new substations, subsea and underground cables and overhead lines across the north of Scotland. The programme will unlock Scotland’s homegrown, clean power potential, and deliver the infrastructure needed to meet national energy security and clean power targets, all while bringing jobs and local benefits to the community.
To sign up for regular updates about the Skye Reinforcement project or find out more information, visit: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/skye-reinforcement/