Council / Council to request SSEN provides cumulative impact assessment for future projects
SHETLAND Islands Council is to formally request that SSEN Transmission undertakes a cumulative impact assessment for its future infrastructure projects in the isles.
A motion from Shetland North member Andrew Hall was passed at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday.
It comes amid significant concern in his ward over the scale of upcoming projects from SSE – including ‘pylons’, a substation and a large northern hub likely to be near Scatsta or Sullom Voe.
Hall’s motion said SSEN Transmission’s strategy is split between seven projects, each with independent planning applications, impact assessments and community consultations.
It said the “seven separate projects fail to account for the cumulative and interrelated effects on our environment, economy and community.”
The motion comes after a meeting in Voe on Tuesday night organised by Voe Community Development Association.
A petition was launched at the meeting against plans to run 38-metre high pylons around the village.
SSEN’s plans include a new substation, potentially near Voe.
This could connect to “pylons” larger than any overhead lines already in Shetland which could then run to the northern substation hub.
This large substation site would facilitate a second HVDC cable to the Scottish mainland as well as offshore wind to the east of the isles.
A spokesperson for SSEN Transmission said in response to the motion that, as part of the environment assessment undertaken for new projects, “we consider cumulative effects with other developments in line with well-established industry guidance”.
“The result of this forms part of future consenting processes and we are keen to discuss these specific areas in more detail with stakeholders,” they said.
“We are committed to ensuring our projects create meaningful benefit for Shetland – including local supply chain opportunities, a significant boost to the islands’ economy, jobs, housing legacy, and community benefit funding.
“We will continue working closely with Shetland Islands Council and local communities as we progress future transmission projects, which will play a crucial role in achieving our country’s energy security and clean power ambitions.”
The energy company also said it supports a more joined-up approach to Shetland’s energy landscape over the coming years, highlighting how it brought together developers at a recent public event in Lerwick.
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