SSEN Transmission has signed contracts with key contractors for the construction of the Orkney-Caithness 220kV link.
Contracts have been signed with the Siemens Energy and BAM joint venture, as well as with Nexans and RJ McLeod for key elements of the construction with the work set to get started in September.
The Orkney-Caithness Link project, an estimated capital investment of more than £900m, will see the installation of a new high voltage alternating current (HVAC) subsea cable between Orkney and the Scottish mainland, enabling the connection of up to 220MW of new renewable electricity to the national grid.
The link will consist of a new substation at Finstown in Orkney, along with around 14km of underground wire to where it makes landfall at Warebeth, then 53km of subsea line, which will connect into a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness where connection will be made to the GB electricity transmission network.
The substations will be constructed by the Siemens Energy and BAM.
RJ McLeod will install the underground cable ducting, including horizontal direction drilling to minimise impact at landfalls and water courses.
Nexans will be manufacturing the wire in Halden, Norway, and will install the 14km land and 53km subsea system between the substations.
Deputy project director at SSEN Transmission Ian Clark said: “We are delighted to have awarded these crucial contracts to the Siemens Energy and BAM JV, Nexans and RJ McLeod for the delivery of the Orkney-Caithness Link project.
“All three have a strong track-record of project delivery and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with them.
“Early development and initial public consultation on this project started in 2017 and reaching this point – where we’re ready for construction to begin – is a testament to the hard work by the entire team at SSEN Transmission and our supply chain partners.
“We are now ready to get started with construction work at each end of the link in Finstown and Dounreay and will keep the communities informed as we make progress.”
Vice president of grid solutions Europe at Siemens Energy Mark Pilling said: “I am proud that substations and grid stabilisation technology from Siemens Energy will connect 220MW of clean energy to the grid, enough to power 250,000 homes.
“This project marks the continuation of a fantastic relationship with our Joint Venture Partner BAM, and our customer SSEN Transmission.”