Niall Stuart: Beauly-Denny green light will bring green power to the people

Along with the other improvements set out in the National Planning Framework, the upgrade will allow the development of some 6GW of additional electricity generation in the north of Scotland – almost double the total capacity of all renewable developments across the country.

Let's remember that this proposal is an upgrade to an existing line, and will strengthen the weakest link in our transmission system. It is vital to transporting renewable electricity from where it will be generated to where it will be consumed. It does not mean a new generation of "mega-pylons" across the Scottish countryside, but brings the connection to the same capacity as other key arteries in our electricity network.

Quite simply, the project is essential to deliver a sustainable and secure energy mix for Scotland, with clean, green energy required to replace ageing power plants.

At present, new wind farms in the north of Scotland can face delays of up to ten years in getting connected to the grid; the new Beauly-Denny line will shorten this to an acceptable level.

In addition, the upgrade will give some assurance to Scotland's nascent wave and tidal sectors, firmly anchored in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters, that they will have a route to market when they reach a commercial scale.

It would be a tragedy if we were to lose out on the benefits powered by the growth of renewables, with potentially billions of pounds of investment and thousands of new highly-paid, highly-skilled jobs in fragile rural and remote economies.

But this isn't just about economic opportunity; this is also about environmental gain. The huge increase in renewables allowed by the upgrade will make a significant cut in the carbon emissions from the power sector, putting us well on the way to our target of 50 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020.

For these reasons, the new line has had the support of a broad coalition of business and environmental groups.

There have of course been objections, and these were rightly given serious and independent scrutiny during the public inquiry, which looked at the need for the line and alternatives.

The Reporters have agreed that strengthening connections down the east coast is not an alternative, but an additional requirement if we are to truly grasp the opportunity of renewables. They also agree that burying the cables underground or placing them under the sea do not meet the criteria set out for viable, affordable and practical alternatives.

Objectors have also been concerned about the impact on the environment and scenery, but the replacement route has fewer pylons, greatly reduces the number of houses within close proximity of the line, and has been designed after detailed discussions with local communities and statutory and non-statutory consultees such as Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB.

Consenting to Beauly-Denny is fundamentally a decision about the type of country Scotland is, and the kind of country we aspire to be. Rather than wringing our hands at every new wind farm, renewable development or grid connection, we should take pride that Scotland – a country of five million people – is leading not just UK but EU efforts to tackle climate change and build a new industrial sector for the future.

Niall Stuart is chief executive of Scottish Renewables