Aberdeenshire Council has given permission to build an electricity converter station and underground cables for a interconnector project.

It is part of NorthConnect, a subsea link between the UK and Norway which aims to connect the power networks.

The converter station and onshore cables will connect the interconnector cable to the National Grid.

Applications for the ‘sea-based’ part of the project – planning permission and marine licences – are currently scheduled for 2017.

The 650-kilometre long interconnector is expected to have a capacity of 1.4GW – equivalent to meet 25% of Scottish peak demand.

The cost of the project is £1.3 billion and is scheduled to start operating from 2022.

It is owned in a partnership between Vattenfall and three Norwegian companies, E-CO Energi, Agder Energi and Lyse.

Richard Blanchfield, UK Project Manager for the NorthConnect project said: “This major investment is an opportunity for the North East economy.

“It will help keep the lights on in Scotland, press down on household electricity bills and allow the green powerhouses of Scotland and Scandinavia to deliver their low carbon potential.”