Going Underground

Energy power lines might be buried to protect Scotland's landscapes - but at what potential cost to the environment?

- by NICK DRAINEY

SCOTLAND is seen as a leader in renewable energy, sometimes producing enough to power the whole country on a given day. The UK's first electricity pylon was built in Scotland in 1928 in Bonnyfield, near Falkirk, as part of a drive to connect power efficiently to domestic consumers and industry.

Since then, Scotland has seen many high-voltage power lines, carried by pylons, erected across the country. But in recent years the idea of building new pylons as high as 100 metres - and sometimes higher - has caused consternation in some rural communities, who claim that it will blight our beautiful landscapes.

In February, the Scottish Government gave the go-ahead for a 27-mile stretch of replacement overhead power lines between Kendoon and Tongland in Dumfries and Galloway, causing ferocious opposition within communities along the route.

It wasn't the first time of such opposition. Back in 2010, the 137-mile Beauly-Denny power line caused headlines when it was approved and, even now, 10 years after it started transmitting electricity from the wind farms of the north to the Central Belt, it still causes anger.

Yet another battle lies ahead, with plans to create a new line in the Borders, connecting Scotland to England, as well as a major upgrade of lines in the north of Scotland.

When it comes to the works in Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Government officials had initially recommended refusing the project, which would result in the loss of "irreplaceable woodland".

But despite nearly 1,000 objections, ministers made the "regrettable" decision that replacing end-of-life electricity network infrastructure and securing supplies was more important.