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Caithness to Aberdeenshire subsea cable plans submitted to Scottish Government





Marine permissions are being sought for a 165km subsea high-voltage electricity cable connecting Caithness with Aberdeenshire.

The application to the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate has this week been submitted by SSEN Transmission as part of a major investment programme in the north of Scotland.

The NKT Victoria off-loaded a separate HVDC subsea cable close to the switching station at Noss Head; the new subsea cable would come ashore at Sinclair's Bay. Picture: SSEN
The NKT Victoria off-loaded a separate HVDC subsea cable close to the switching station at Noss Head; the new subsea cable would come ashore at Sinclair's Bay. Picture: SSEN

The 2GW bi-pole, 525kV HVDC link between Spittal and Peterhead is planned to connect to a new substation hub at Netherton in Aberdeenshire, which is also seeking planning permission.

At the Caithness end of the cable, landfall would be made at Sinclair’s Bay, with a 20-kilometre land cable corridor to connect to a converter station at the Banniskirk Hub, near Spittal.

Planning permission for the Caithness hub was submitted to Highland Council in December 2024 and is currently under consideration by the local authority. More than 250 public comments have so far been made, with the majority opposing the scheme.

SSEN says the Spittal to Peterhead HVDC link is a crucial component of its £20 billion “Pathway to 2030” investment programme.

The marine licence application follows two years of development and offshore marine surveying, as well as engagement on the cable route design undertaken with marine users, other offshore developers and stakeholders. Pre-application consultation events included those that took place in September in Wick and Watten as well as in Aberdeenshire.

The proposed land corridor cable route from Sinclair's Bay to the Banniskirk Hub near Spittal.
The proposed land corridor cable route from Sinclair's Bay to the Banniskirk Hub near Spittal.

David Inge, SSEN Transmission’s offshore development portfolio manager, said: “Upgrading our electricity transmission network is key to delivering clean, secure energy for Scotland and the UK. However, it’s not just about national energy goals – it’s about delivering real benefits to local communities.

“From creating jobs and supporting local economies to funding initiatives through our community benefit fund, we’re proud to invest in the places we serve. These efforts help build a stronger, more resilient, and more connected future for generations to come.

“In preparing our application, we’ve worked closely with local communities – including marine stakeholders – and collaborated with other third-party developers and asset owners across Caithness and Aberdeenshire.

“We would like to thank all those who provided feedback as part of our pre-application consultation events, which have been so valuable in helping to guide and shape our proposals. We now look forward to working with the Marine Directorate licensing operations team and stakeholders as part of the determination process.”

The “Pathway to 2030” programme is one of the biggest investments undertaken in the north of Scotland for decades, according to SSEN. Last December, SSEN Transmission published a plan that claimed it could support up to 8400 jobs across the region.


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