By Richard Burdge

A MASSIVE power line stretching 137 miles is both “necessary and economic” a public inquiry in Perth has been told.

David Densley of Scottish and Southern Energy was giving evidence in the opening stages of the mammoth battle over the bid to build 600 overhead pylons from Beauly in the north to Denny in the south. The pylons, which will be built at cost of £320 million, will carry energy generated by hydro, wave and wind power.

The energy company claim it is the only way that Scotland can meet the stringent targets set for generating energy from renewable sources.

Opposition from various sources has been fierce with objectors claiming the pylons, some of which will be over 200 feet tall, would spoil the countryside and damage tourism.

Over the coming months all sides in the debate will have an opportunity to put forward their views at the public inquiry which started this week in the Quality Station Hotel in Perth. Other sessions will also be held in Inverness, Newtonmore and Stirling.

Mr Densley, regulation manager for SSE, said that the scheme had the backing of the power industry regulatory body Ofgem.

“Ofgem and its consultants have reviewed the proposal and concluded that it necessary and economic,” Mr Densley told the inquiry.

“As a consequence, funding has been allowed for SHETL (Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd) to recover the costs within its licence.

“Accordingly, Ofgem must have been satisfied that SHETL, in designing the Beauly/Denny project, had acted in accordance with its licence obligations in the development of an efficient and economical system.

“By meeting its licence obligations, the licensee can be taken to have acted in accordance with its statutory obligations to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system for the transmission of electricity; and, which will facilitate competition in the generation of electricity.”

An engineering graduate from Cambridge University, Mr Densley also has a Master of Business Administration from Dundee University, which he said gave him a detailed understanding of the economics of the issues involved.

The company had a statutory obligation to develop an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system for the transmission of electricity, and Ogem and its consultants had reviewed the proposal and concluded it was efficient, he said.

Mike Barlow, system manager in SSE Power Distribution, explained his side of the business was responsible for the delivery of the day-to-day operation and licence obligations of the transmission licence holder, SHETL.

“My intention is to provide evidence that the development of the proposed Beauly-Denny line is entirely consistent with the UK Government, DTI and Scottish Executive intentions for the development of renewable generation,” said Mr Barlow.

“Furthermore, I will provide evidence to demonstrate that there has been significant discussion with the DTI, the Scottish Executive and the electricity industry regulator, Ofgem.

“I will also seek to demonstrate that there is a large volume of renewable generation seeking access to the transmission and distribution systems such that the need for the proposed upgrade is immediately required.”