SSE’s work on renewing the existing electricity transmission network in Caithness reached the halfway point this week.
The 275kV-line will link substations at Dounreay, Thurso and Spittal, where a 100-mile underground and subsea cable to Moray will start.
SSE’s transmission arm is also building an additional 132kV line to strengthen the existing network between Spittal and Mybster.
The company said almost all tower foundations for the overhead line upgrade have been completed, together with temporary access tracks needed for construction.
It added that the assembly of new steel towers between Dounreay and Thurso South is also almost complete and the ‘stringing’ of wires on this section has started.
Two super grid transformers will be delivered in the next week to Scrabster, before transport to the Thurso South substation site at Geiselittle over the following 10 days.
Lead project manager Ian Clark said: “Our team on site has pulled together and brought us to the half way point on schedule, with everyone from our principal contractor Balfour Beatty down to the smallest subcontractors playing their part.
“The construction of level platform areas at both substation sites is now complete and work to assemble the electrical equipment has commenced in earnest.”
Image: sxc
