Western Link 2 FAQs
Who is SP Energy Networks?
SP Energy Networks is part of the ScottishPower Group. We are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in central and southern Scotland, and, through SP Manweb, the distribution network in north Wales and part of north west England. Our role is to maintain, operate and invest in our network to secure a safe, reliable, and economic service for current and future consumers.
What statutory obligations does SP Energy Networks have?
Our statutory obligations are set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in our transmission licence. We must develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system in accordance with security and quality of supply standards. We must offer to connect new power generators to the system and, make sure any work we do keeps disturbance to the natural and built environment and the people who live in it, work in it or enjoy it to a minimum.
Who regulates SP Energy Networks?
We are regulated by Ofgem (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets), and independent national regulatory body. Further information about Ofgem is available on:
- Calling Ofgem's Consumer Affairs team on 020 7901 7295
Why is Western Link 2 needed?
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy and have targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2045 in Scotland and 2050 in the UK.
As the country shifts away from traditional forms of fuel to heat homes, charge vehicles and power businesses, there is greater need for clean electricity. By the end of this decade, the UK Government also aims for every home in the country to be powered by offshore wind and has set a 50GW offshore wind connections target by the early 2030s.
Much of the new offshore and onshore wind is in or around Scotland, and the existing electricity network does not have enough capacity to transmit all the additional clean, green energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed.
Western Link 2 is a new high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea electrical link that will connect Ayrshire in Scotland with the transmission network in Wales. It will play a key role in the fight against climate change, and the UK’s transition to net zero.
What exactly are you proposing?
Western Link 2 is a major energy project led by SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission. It’s designed to help move clean electricity between Scotland and Wales using underground and undersea cables — reducing the need for new pylons and overhead lines.
The project includes four main parts:
- A 13km underground cable that connects a new energy station near Kilmarnock to the coast near Monkton in Ayrshire.
- A 30km undersea cable from Monkton to a new switching station at Grangestone industrial estate, near Girvan.
- A longer undersea cable that runs from Grangestone all the way to Wales.
- A new underground cable and converter station in Wales to complete the connection.
This new link will allow electricity to flow between Scotland and Wales more efficiently. It also makes it possible for the MachairWind Offshore Windfarm — located off the west coast of Scotland — to send its clean energy into the national grid. That wind farm will generate up to 2 gigawatts of renewable electricity, which is enough to power around two million homes.
How much will the project cost?
It is early days and we won’t be able to cost the project fully until we have a definite proposal.
Who will pay for this project?
Ultimately, the cost of our investment in the electricity system is partly borne by consumers through electricity bills, so we have a duty to be economic and efficient. We recover our costs through transmission charges levied by National Grid.
The amount we invest in our networks and the amount we are able to recover is agreed with Ofgem, which is committed to working with industry, governments and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers. Find out more about Ofgem.
Who gives you permission to construct Western Link 2?
For the onshore works in Scotland, SP Energy Networks will be applying to both East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils for planning permission in principle (PiP) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act.
For the marine cables, our marine environmental consultants conduct a separate environmental appraisal that assesses the potential impact of the project on the marine environment, shipping and navigation, commercial fisheries and other marine users. The appraisal will accompany an application to the Scottish Government Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) for a licence to install the marine cables in Scottish waters. Consents will also be required for those elements of the Project in other jurisdictions, too. MachairWind will submit their consent applications for the windfarm development area to MD-LOT in 2026.
How did SPEN select its preferred converter station and switching station sites, landfall site and onshore and marine cable routes?
SPEN follows established procedures for the routeing of overhead lines and underground cables, and the siting of substations and other infrastructure, taking into account environmental and technical considerations. This process is explained in our document Approach to Routeing and Environmental Impact Assessment, which is available on our website here.
When identifying and appraising potential landfall sites – where subsea cables come ashore and join on to underground cables – we must consider both onshore and offshore factors in our environmental and technical assessments. This ensures that any shortlisted landfall options are not only feasible but also allow for onward routeing of onshore and offshore cables.
You can find full details of our routeing and siting assessment in our Route Consultation Document.
How did you identify the preferred marine cable route?
Our preferred route for the subsea cables has been developed through careful environmental and technical assessment of potential route options and will be refined in consultation with Scottish shipping and fisheries organisations and environmental bodies. It takes into account protected and designated areas and infrastructure, such as pipelines, cables, wrecks and military considerations, including areas known to contain unexploded ordnance. You can find detailed information and maps on our website and at our consultation events.
Why does the converter station need to be next to the existing Kilmarnock South Substation?
Opting for land next to the existing Kilmarnock South Substation minimises the amount of infrastructure needed to connect them, meaning AC electricity from the transmission network can be converted to HVDC for safe onward transmission via the underground and subsea cables.
How big will the converter station be and what will it look like?
The converter station will comprise large warehouse-type buildings and outside electrical equipment. The total converter station footprint will be approximately 250m × 350m in size with buildings up to 28.5m in height, to accommodate the equipment needed.
We will also need temporary construction and parking areas, and underground cables to connect the converter station to the existing substation. Our plans will include landscaping and tree-planting to help screen the site, reduce its visual effects and increase biodiversity. Access would be via a new access route between the A76 and A719.
What work will take place at the landfall site?
The subsea cables will be installed at the landfall site below ground, using horizontal directional drilling (HDD), to minimise any impact on the sensitive coastal environment, protected sites, the Ayrshire Coast railway line, local roads and Prestwick Golf Club.
The subsea cables will be joined to underground cables in a buried pit. Once installation is complete, the ground will be reinstated and no permanent above-ground infrastructure will be visible.
How will the underground cables be installed?
The cables will be installed in a trench where possible. Our preferred route for the underground cables between the converter station at Kilmarnock South and the landfall point at Monkton is approximately 13km in length, broadly following the A77 mainly through rural areas.
It will cross watercourses, including Muggersland Burn and Pow Burn (twice), a number of local and major roads (including the A77 and A78), the Glasgow–Ayr/Stranraer rail line, the National Cycle Network route and three core paths (one of which is the Ayrshire Coastal Path). We will use trenchless technology (such as HDD) to pass safely beneath these and other features if we cannot route around them, to minimise disruption. We are aware of flooding issues in the area and will carry out flood risk studies as part of our environmental appraisals, to ensure that any works will not add to local flood risks.
We recognise that construction work can cause temporary inconvenience and disturbance, but we believe our preferred route will keep this to a minimum. Once the cables are installed, the land will be reinstated and there will be no visible above-ground infrastructure.
How wide will the underground cable route be?
The actual ‘working width’ of land we will need for underground cable installation will be about 40 metres across. This will include the trench within which we will install the cables, space alongside the trench for storing topsoil and subsoil, and a temporary haul route for our construction vehicles.
How are you consulting local people, and what happens next?
Our first round of consultation seeks people’s views on the four main elements of the project:
- a 13km underground cable linking a new converter station next to Kilmarnock South Substation with a landfall point on the coast near Monkton, Ayrshire
- a 30km offshore HVDC cable between Monkton and a new switching station at Grangestone industrial estate, north of Girvan in Ayrshire
- an offshore HVDC cable between Grangestone industrial estate and Wales
- a new underground cable and a converter station in Wales.
Following the first round of consultation, we will develop detailed designs for the landfall, converter station, switching station and cable routes, including locations for access routes and working areas.
We will publish a report summarising the feedback received in this first round of consultation and how this has influenced our plans.
We will then carry out detailed environmental appraisals on the marine and onshore elements of the project and hold a further round of public consultation on the detailed designs.
SP Energy Networks will be applying to East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils for planning permission in principle (PiP) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act.
Are you consulting landowners?
Yes, we have contacted all owners and occupiers of land that might be affected by our proposals. If you believe that your land may be affected and you have not yet heard from us, please contact us.