Greens 400kV substation project approved to boost clean energy in Aberdeenshire

Planning consent has been officially granted for SSEN Transmission’s Greens 400kV substation project near New Deer, Aberdeenshire - marking a key milestone in Scotland’s clean energy transition.

The substation is a critical part of the proposed Beauly to Peterhead 400kV overhead line (OHL) connection, designed to deliver high-voltage renewable electricity to homes and businesses across the region. The project supports national energy security and clean power targets by enabling the transmission of low-carbon, homegrown energy.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee approved the project following two years of development and extensive public engagement.

SSEN Transmission hosted three rounds of face-to-face consultations, attracting over 800 attendees and receiving more than 130 formal responses.

The development will include a new outdoor 400kV Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) substation, located east of Turriff and south of Cuminestown. It will connect to the proposed Beauly to Peterhead OHL and the existing New Deer substation via underground cable.

Part of SSEN Transmission’s £22bn+ investment programme, the Greens substation contributes to the wider upgrade of Great Britain’s electricity transmission system.

The project has been independently assessed and approved by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and energy regulator Ofgem.

The site was selected based on environmental and technical criteria, including optimal access routes and connectivity to existing and planned infrastructure.

Public feedback helped shape the final design, with landscape screening and Biodiversity Net Gain measures incorporated to reduce visual impact and enhance local ecology.