Construction has begun on the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) onshore substation in East Lothian, Scotland. The substation is in the Lammermuir Hills, and provides a grid access point for the NnG offshore wind farm.

LUC project managed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and discharged the pre-commencement planning conditions for all onshore works.

We undertook EIA screening for a number of project modifications, and provided routeing and siting work prior to the EIA. We conducted specialist assessments, including ecology and landscape and visual.

LUC also prepared the seascape, landscape and visual impact assessment (SLVIA) for the offshore wind farm.

The wind farm will be located 15.5km off the Fife coast and will cover an area of approximately 105km2. It will have the potential to generate 450MW of renewable electricity – enough to supply around 375,000 homes in Scotland.

It will also offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. This will help Scotland towards its target of net-zero carbon neutrality by 2045. Offshore construction began in August 2020.

The onshore substation will connect the wind farm to the national grid via an underground transmission cable spanning over 12km. The route from the substation joins the coast by the village of Thorntonloch, 10km southeast of Dunbar.

Among the facilities are two gas insulated substations (GIS), two dynamic reactive compensator (DRC) buildings, and a central control building. The bulk earthworks for the site have been completed, including soil excavation and the installation of a retaining wall. The GIS, DRC, and central control buildings are all now under construction.

Find out more about our Environmental Impact Assessment and Landscape Planning services.