SSEN Transmission has awarded NKT the approximately €235m contract to deliver and install and HVDC interconnector to the Shetland Isles.
The turnkey order comprises the manufacturing of two 260km 320kV HVDC on-and offshore power cables, installation by the cable-laying vessel NKT Victoria and protection of the cables.
Ofgem gave conditional approval for the interconnector yesterday, subject to proof that construction of the 443MW, 103-turbine Viking wind farm, which has also been enabled by the decision, would be constructed.
NKT president and chief executive Alexander Kara said the company was very pleased to be selected, adding: “This turnkey order confirms NKT’s strong position in the market for high-voltage DC interconnectors.
“With this opportunity we continue our good relationship with SSEN Transmission, with whom we also successfully completed the Caithness-Moray Link, connecting Eastern and Northern Scotland.”
The power cables will be manufactured in Karlskrona, Sweden, with expected production start in 2021 and with commissioning in 2024.
The Shetland HVDC Link will be the first transmission connection between the Scottish mainland and the island of Shetland, located off the north-east coast of Scotland, which currently has an islanded network.
Shetland currently gets its electricity from the Lerwick Power Station, which runs on diesel and is due to close later this decade.
NKT said it is producing the power cables in a plant running on 100% green electricity and that the NKT Victoria is the industry’s “most sustainable cable-laying vessel” as it runs on power from the quay-side when in harbour.
NKT said the contract did not change its 2020 financial outlook.