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Later this year Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is to lodge an application for a sub-sea cable to feed renewable energy generated in the Western Isles into the mainland grid. SSE is proceeding with the interconnection despite the refusal of consent in April for a giant 650 MW wind farm in North Lewis. Two large Western Isles wind farm projects totalling 360 MW remain in the planning process, however, awaiting a decision by the Scottish Executive. The sub sea cable will run from Grabhair on Lewis to Little Loch Broom on the mainland; from there the line will continue as a high-voltage, direct-current underground cable to connect to the mainland grid at Beauly. The chosen route and the decision to underground the mainland cable followed a public consultation and environmental impact assessments.