THE scale and number of proposed electrical transmission infrastructures around Stonehaven is becoming increasingly apparent as multiple offshore wind farm developers push forward with their plans – the following is a Bellman briefing on where we are at now.
Hearing for Bowdun Offshore Windfarm
Last week, a pre-determination hearing was held at Viewmount for Bowdun Offshore Windfarm Ltd’s application for planning permission in principle for its onshore infrastructure.
Thistle Wind Partners are behind the scheme, which was one of the projects gaining a license in 2022 following the ScotWind leasing round. Their plans would see 67 fixed-foundation turbines set in 187Km2 of seas generating 1.08GW electricity.
The series of works proposed would see export cables taken under the shoreline at Haughs Bay, Benholm, using horizontal directional drilling to reach the landfall connection at bays 4m underground. A corridor ranging from 105m to 575m wide would then be required to trench the cables 1.65m underground on a route passing under the A92 and between Glenbervie and Drumlithie.
Finally and perhaps most significantly, Bowdun like all offshore wind farms, requires its own project substation, which would encompass 19 hectares of Fetteresso Forest – with 10 hectares being for the operational switchyard itself. To give a sense of scale, one rugby pitch is approximately one hectare.
The pre-determination hearing was an information gathering session for councillors who heard from, and could question, a range of speakers representing the planning service, the developer and those wishing to make representations. Points raised will be put to the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee for discussion. A report will then go to a meeting of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, where committee members will be asked to make a decision.
The above is the Scottish Government map of all Scottish offshore wind projects (as of January 2026)
Bellrock Wind Farm – Cowie landfall identified
Nadara are the developers behind Bellrock – another ScotWind lease project – this time a 1.8 GW floating wind farm with around 120 turbines – one of the largest floating wind farms in UK waters.
On September 1, Nadara submitted a Scoping Report and Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Screening Report to the Marine Directorate, for the offshore transmission infrastructure associated with the project. This report reveals Cowie as the chosen landfall site for the export cables.
Last week, Nadara’s EIA Scoping Request for offshore transmission was registered with Aberdeenshire Council.
Electricity generated by Bellorock is scheduled to connect to the grid at the proposed Hurlie substation. A separate project substation is also required. As yet, no further information has been forthcoming on any chosen site – the diagram below is from information presented during the public consultation earlier this year and shows potential locations.
Aspen Wind Farm choose site for substation south of Kempstone Hill
If it goes ahead, the Aspen Floating Offshore Windfarm will comprise up to 72 turbines floating 84 – 100 km off Peterhead and producing 1GW of electricity.
As an INTOG (Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas) license development, Aspen would first provide electricity to offshore oil and gas structures.
Remaining power will travel to a landfall site north of Newtonhill just inland from Craig Stirling, then on to a proposed substation located between the A90 and A92.
The second consultation last month on this project revealed Cerulean Wind’s chosen substation site just off the Auquorthies Road.
The substation footprint is likely to measure 300m by 350m – 10.5 hectares. Three technological solutions are being considered:
- Air Insulated Substation (AIS): with equipment mostly outdoors in an open yard
- Gas Insulated Substation (GIS): majority of equipment contained within buildings.
- Hybrid design: a combination of both AIS and GIS technologies.
A cable corridor would then be required to carry the power on to the proposed Hurlie substation for connection to the National Grid.
This developer is starting to talk about money
On Wednesday September 2, Cerulean Winds stuck their heads above the parapet to host an Aspen Community investment Workshop in Chapelton.
A Community Fund is on the cards for the three community council areas affected by the development – Stonehaven and District (SDCC), North Kincardine, and Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore. At last week’s meeting of SDCC, members heard the proposed arrangement could be an initial £70k development fund available post-consent (say 2027); £430k spread over three years of construction (for amelioration of effects on immediate neighbourhoods, and therefore not part of the wider community benefit); and then £5 million spread over the 20-year contract period for community use.
Hurlie – the elephant in the room
The Hurlie substation is deemed a national development by the Scottish Government in our National Planning Framework 4, NPF4, adopted in February 2023. It is further backed by NPF4 Policy 11 which supports all renewable energy projects and enabling infrastructure unless there are unacceptable significant adverse impacts.
Hurlie is the final vital link between huge volumes of generated renewable energy and the National Grid and the transmission highway that will manifest itself in the proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV overhead line, which is now under the scrutiny of a public inquiry after Angus Council objected to the 66-mile “super-pylon” project.
And SSEN’s bid for a 400 kV air insulated substation along with associated works at Hurlie bog in Fetteresso Forest was itself refused planning permission in January by Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee.
In February, SSEN lodged an appeal to that decision with the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division. In May, matters went up a notch as the appeal was called in by Scottish Ministers. The reporter allocated to the case, Mr Alisdair Edwards will conclude his investigations and considerations before making a recommendation. Then it is over to Holyrood for a decision.
It must be getting tense in the corridors of power – the last update stated Mr Edwards was expected to issue his report by 31 August 2026.
If you are reading The Bellman on a larger format device, ie a tablet or a PC, then you will be able to find a search function the home page just below the title on the right. It is very good. We have published more articles on the renewable energy developments than it is sensible to try and link so please do have a look if you are interested