SSEN has lodged an appeal to the Scottish Government after Aberdeenshire Council rejected plans for its substation at Fetteresso Forest.
The energy giant has argued that its proposed 400kV electricity substation is of national importance because it would help support Scotland's net zero ambitions.
SSEN said the development would play a key role in strengthening the electricity grid and enabling renewable energy projects, including the Kintore to Tealing power line.
But after a seven-hour debate back in January, councillors narrowly voted to throw the proposal out.
They believed the project would change the landscape of the forest and potentially create flooding issues as well as “industrialisation of the area”.
SSEN said that the council’s refusal was “unreasonable”.
The appeal statement submitted by the energy firm’s lawyers slammed the local authority’s decision, saying it was made “without reasonable planning grounds”.
It also claims that the council failed to give “complete, precise and relevant” reasons for refusing the substation and "ignored" expert advice from SEPA and NatureScot, as well as its own flood team.
Finally, the energy firm stated that the application was recommended for approval by council planners, therefore believes it should have been approved.
The statement added: “It is only because of the planning authority’s unreasonable conduct that this appeal is necessary.”
A reporter will now be appointed by the Scottish Government to examine the application and the council’s refusal before a final decision is made.