SP Energy Networks want it to run between an existing substation at the town’s former power station and a new one that’s proposed in the north-west towards Kilbagie.
It doesn’t need planning permission but Fife Council have been asked whether an environmental impact assessment should be carried out, to gauge the likely effects of the renewable energy development.
There will be some disruption while the work is carried out but a statement from the power firm said: “From the proposed Kincardine North substation until it crosses Hawkhill Road, the underground cable route would be largely routed through agricultural land.
“South of Hawkhill Road the underground cable route would be within industrial land which was the site of the former Kincardine Power Station.”
It added: “The vast majority of the underground cable route would have no impact on landscape as it would be underground and land affected during installation would be reinstated.
“There would be some removal of trees to the south of Hawkhill Road, however, this would not result in significant landscape effects.”
However, there is already opposition to the location of the proposed substation with a public meeting held in Kincardine last October.
Community council chairman, Douglas Campbell, had said: “They couldn’t have picked a worse site for it.
“There’s the matter of extra pylons in the village and an underground cable being installed.
“Tulliallan Castle is in the woods there, this is our historic environment and they’re going to lump a big substation right next to it.”
Assuming it goes ahead – it’s classed as permitted development – the power connection will consist of six 275 kilovolt (kV) underground cables laid within a 3 metre wide trench up to 2.5m deep.
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Installation will be carried out within a ‘temporary working corridor’ approximately 20m wide, and 10m wide through areas with trees.
The land would be dug up from the proposed substation to the north-west of Kincardine and along parallel lines to the new access road it will have, south towards Hawkhill Road.
The route will then run along the north side, go under Hawkhill Road and the railway sidings to the south-east of Hawkhill Farm and follow existing roads within the old power station site to the substation.
Once the cable is laid in the trench, it will be covered with excavated material.
On completion, the land affected will be reinstated.
The statement explained: “Decarbonisation of the energy sector is a central pillar of both governments’ net zero strategies meaning the way in which energy is generated, transported and used is undergoing transformational change with the deployment of renewable energy generation including onshore and offshore wind.
“To facilitate this new renewable energy capacity and ensure that energy can be transported from where it is generated to where it is used, the electricity transmission system requires extensive reinforcement.
“This includes in the Kincardine area where SP Transmission are developing proposals to reinforce the electricity transmission system which will increase the capacity of the network and support the deployment of renewable energy consistent with UK and Scottish Government policies and targets.”
As well as the new Kincardine North substation, work in the area will include upgrades to existing overhead lines and the new underground cable.
Part of the Scottish Power group, SP Energy Networks owns and operates the electricity transmission and distribution networks in central and southern Scotland.
They are responsible for transporting electricity from power stations to homes and businesses through a vast network of overhead lines, underground cables and substations.