Key components for Spittal to Peterhead undersea cable secured by SSEN Transmission supplier deal with NKT
A major infrastructure project to export electricity from Caithness to Aberdeenshire and the rest of the UK network has taken a major step forward this week.
SSEN Transmission said it had secured agreements with cable supplier NKT, which will help it deliver two major High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission connection projects in the north of Scotland.
The agreements will see NKT proceed with the initial works on projects connecting Spittal to Peterhead, alongside a separate scheme to link Lewis on the Western Isles to Beauly.
The Spittal-Peterhead undersea cable project will include an HDVC converter station and an alternating current substation near Spittal, where concerns have been raised by local people worried about the cumulative impact of several projects centred on the area.
The West of Orkney Windfarm has permission for a substation at Spittal, alongside the Spittal-Peterhead cable and a separate Spittal-Loch Buidhe-Beauly 400kV overhead transmission line which has sparked a major backlash from communities across the Highlands.
SSEN Transmission says the Spittal-Peterhead and the Stornoway-Beauly projects for a key part of its infrastructure development programme, a £20 billion investment that will deliver major upgrades to the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland to enable the connection and transportation of renewable energy around Great Britain.
The Spittal to Peterhead connection will see the installation of a 150km of subsea cable in addition to around 20km on “on land cable” from a converter station at Spittal to the transition point closer to the coast. There will be a further 15km of cable required at the Aberdeenshire end.
Meanwhile, the Western Isles connection project will see the installation of 81km of subsea cable and a further 80km of underground cable between the HVDC site on Lewis and the corresponding HVDC site at Fanellan on the mainland.
Sandy Mactaggart, director of offshore delivery at SSEN Transmission, said: “We are delighted to have secured agreements with our supply chain partner NKT to help deliver the cables needed for the Western Isles and Spittal-Peterhead HVDC connections, an important step supporting the timely delivery of these projects.
“Recognising the unprecedented global demand for HVDC technology, we have acted with pace to secure these key components at the earliest opportunity - and we’re now looking forward to building on our long-established and strong working relationship with NKT.
“We are particularly pleased to be working with NKT on the delivery of the crucial Western Isles Connection Project. Having been involved in efforts to connect the Western Isles for several years, NKT have demonstrated a real understanding of the project’s importance in enabling the development of renewable energy in and around the Western Isles and the associated benefits this will deliver for the local community, and it will be great to work together to help realise that opportunity.”
Darren Fennell, EVP & head of HV Solutions Karlskrona in NKT, said: “We are very satisfied taking the next steps for the projects and continuing the long-term collaboration with SSEN Transmission to strengthen the interconnection of the Scottish power grid.
“With our extensive experience in large turnkey HVDC projects, we remain committed to supporting the decarbonisation of the power system in Great Britain.
“The agreement is a statement of the exceptional collaboration with SSEN Transmission on interconnector projects like the Caithness-Moray HVDC Link and the ongoing Shetland HVDC Link.”