A £2billion scheme to pump electricity from mainland Europe into the north-east has been approved by Aberdeenshire Council.
A consortium of Scandinavian energy firms will now construct a substation in Boddam, near Peterhead, in the hope of transforming the port into a major player for new energy developments and create up to 200 jobs.
NorthConnect – the name the firms have chosen to go by – last night sounded their happiness at being allowed to progress with its 1,400-gigawatt scheme.
Richard Blanchfield, the project manager for the development at Boddam, said chiefs in the consortium were “obviously happy” that the full council had thrown its weight behind the plans.
“This major investment is an opportunity for the north-east economy, it will help keep the lights on in Scotland, press down on household electricity bills and allow the green powerhouses of Scotland and Scandinavia to deliver their low carbon potential,” he added.
“We will work closely with residents around Boddam and Stirling to ensure that during construction of the converter station and laying the underground cables that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.”
The station at Boddam will transfer power from green energy projects between Scotland and Norway. Power from Peterhead’s power station will also use the 400-mile cable the firm now hopes to plant between both countries.
Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, told councillors yesterday that the development of the interconnector was of “national importance”.
Some local residents did, however, raise concerns about the noise and visual impact the station, which will be built on land at Four Fields, would have during its construction and operation. Others raised environmental concerns.
Mr Blanchfield assured them the design of the station would minimise these impacts, and that talks with locals would continue.
“We plan to continue to work with communities and the council on the project,” he added.
NorthConnect now plan to submit a bid for the cabling by next year and hope to have the project operational by 2022.