Overview
About the Project
The Energy Isles project will connect the approved Energy Isles Wind Farm on Yell to the proposed Yell substation. It comprises a 132 kV single circuit connection, delivered through a combination of overhead line and underground cable between the wind farm substation and the proposed Yell substation.
Why is the Project Required?
The Energy Isles wind farm connection is required to enable renewable electricity generated on Yell to be connected to the wider transmission network. Yell benefits from a strong and consistent wind resource, which will be harnessed by the Energy Isles Wind Farm to generate sustainable, low carbon power. A new transmission connection is necessary to export this power safely and reliably, as the existing network on Shetland does not have sufficient capacity to accommodate this new generation.
The connection forms part of SSEN Transmission’s wider strategic approach for Shetland, supporting the coordinated development of renewable energy and associated transmission infrastructure. The project aligns with the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions, helping to accelerate clean power connections and maximise the contribution of renewable generation to the national electricity system.
The development is in line with SSEN Transmission’s commitment and statutory licence obligations to facilitate connections to the grid through an economical, efficient and coordinated approach to transmission reinforcement.
What could this look like?
The suitability of both overhead line and underground technology options are under consideration to provide the connection.
Community Engagement
Throughout the life of our projects, we aim to work positively with local communities and keep people informed about what we are doing. This is particularly important when we are developing a proposal and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.
We endeavour to take the time to discuss proposals with local community councils, encourage engagement from the wider community and listen to the feedback we receive.
We will do our best to answer any questions and address issues or concerns that are raised with us.
When our project progresses into construction, we will continue working closely with the local community to ensure that our work has as little impact on the lives of those living and working in the area and as many long term positive effects as possible.
How we’re embracing artificial intelligence (AI)
We intend to use AI to assist our experienced teams in the analysis of your feedback, so we can categorise key points raised more quickly. You can learn more about how we’re utilising AI on this dedicated web page.
Project Updates
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Featured updates for this project
Upcoming Consultation Events
Project updates
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Upcoming Consultation Events
We will be holding a series of consultation events in Shetland from the end of June as we share updated proposals for our development projects.
The events, taking place from Monday 29 June 2026 to Thursday 2 July 2026 inclusive, follow previous consultation activity last year where plans were introduced for new substations and overhead line connections.
Since the last round of consultation events, the proposals have been refined to balance feedback received from communities with technical and environmental considerations, this includes introducing the potential for undergrounding sections of the overhead line around the Voe area.
This phase of engagement will begin with an information session at Mossbank Hall on Monday 29 June 2026, where an update will be provided on the location of the Northern Hub, a key project providing connections to the Shetland HVDC Link 2 and other renewable energy developments.
A statutory pre-application consultation event will follow at Voe Hall on Tuesday 30 June 2026, presenting proposed plans for the newly-named Hamarigrind substation (previously known as Kergord 2) and the preferred overhead line alignment between the existing Kergord substation and the proposed Northern Hub.
Further consultation events will take place on Wednesday 1 July 2026 at Mid Yell Hall and Burravoe Hall to discuss proposals for a substation on Yell and the Energy Isles Wind Farm connection, which is proposed to be a trident wooden pole overhead line.
Finally, information events will be held on Thursday 2 July 2026 at Brae Hall and Hillswick Hall to share details of current landfall options for the proposed Shetland HVDC Link 2.
The consultation events come as we move forward with ground investigation activity at Toft, which is a potential site for the Northern Hub. These are low-impact surveys carried out to help understand site conditions. Meanwhile, marine surveys will continue to explore potential landfall sites in Braewick and at Islesburgh for the subsea cable to Shetland to come ashore.
Schedule of events for w/b 29 June 2026:
Monday 29 June 2026
3-7pm in Mossbank Public Hall, Mossbank, Shetland, ZE2 9RB
Northern Hub information session
Download Northern Hub information booklet and Feedback Form
Tuesday 30 June 2026
3-8pm in Voe Public Hall, Isles Road, Voe, ZE2 9PT
Hamarigrind substation consultation event (PAC1) and Kergord to Northern Hub Overhead Line alignment consultation event (PAC2)
Download Hamarigrind substation consultation booklet and Feedback Form
Download Kergord to Northern Hub Overhead Line consultation booklet and Feedback Form
Wednesday 01 July 2026
1-5pm in Mid Yell Hall, Yell, ZE2 9BN
6-8pm in Burravoe Hall, Yell, ZE2 9BA
Yell substation consultation event (PAC1) and Energy Isles Wind Farm Connection Overhead Line alignment consultation event (PAC2)
Note: the same materials will be shared at both Yell events.
Download Yell substation consultation booklet and Feedback Form
Download Energy Isles Wind Farm Connection Overhead Line consultation booklet and Feedback Form
Download Yell marine cable information booklet and Feedback Form
Thursday 02 July 2026
11am-1pm in Brae Hall, ZE2 9QJ
3-7pm in Hillswick Hall, ZE2 9RW
Shetland HVDC Link 2 landfall information session
Note: the same materials will be shared at both landfall events.
Download Shetland HVDC Link 2 landfall information booklet and Feedback Form
For more information, please contact shetlandengagement@sse.com.
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