Shetland HVDC Subsea link striding forwards

As 2021 nears to an end and we are fast approaching the site closure for the Christmas and New Year holidays, we reflect back on 2021 and the many milestones that have been achieved safely and on programme by our principal contractor and their subcontractors. To find out more on the recent construction activities undertaken on Shetland the most recent edition of the Shetland newsletter is now available to be downloaded via the project documentation tab.

The fourth project newsletter is now available to be downloaded from the project documentation section of this webpage. This newsletter is a joint publication with SSE Renewables and provides all interested parties with an insight into how the construction activities are progressing.

To give you an update into what has been happening on site, SSEN Transmission have published its third joint project newsletter with SSE Renewables on the Shetland HVDC project. The newsletter can be downloaded from the project documentation section of this website.

SSEN Transmission have published its second project newsletter, giving you an insight into what has been happening on the site.

We have set up a forum where the Shetland HVDC Link Project can share updates on the project activities with Shetland Marine Stakeholders. The Shetland Marine Stakeholders Forum is targeted at all those engaged in the marine environment, both recreationally and commercially and particularly those with interests in the Weisdale Voe and southern approaches to Shetland. In advance of further scheduled meetings then we are keen to maintain ongoing dialogue and communication and should there be any questions then we would encourage people to direct these towards our project Community Liaison Manager in the first instance. The information that was shared at the inaugural meeting can be downloaded from the Project Documentation section of this website.

Along with our principal contractor for the manufacture and installation of the Shetland link HVDC subsea cable, NKT, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Shetland based civil and marine engineering firm Tulloch Developments, to deliver the civil engineering works for the Shetland HVDC link onshore cable installation. The multimillion pound contract will see Tulloch Developments deliver all the cable installation civil engineering works from where the cable makes land fall in Shetland to the new switching station at Kergord. The works will include the creation of haul roads, new access points, local road improvements and the cable transportation.

SSEN Transmission has appointed the main contractors for the construction of the Shetland HVDC link and all associated infrastructure. The major contract awards follows the recent decision by the energy regulator, Ofgem, to grant final approval for the transmission link, with everything now in place for the start of main construction in late August. Global marine cable solution provider, NKT, will be responsible for the manufacture and installation of the subsea cable; with BAM Nuttall delivering all civil engineering works, including the construction of all buildings; and leading HVDC technology provider, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, delivering and commissioning the HVDC system.

SSEN Transmission welcomes today’s decision by Ofgem to approve the 600MW HVDC transmission link connecting Shetland to the GB mainland.

The Ground Investigation Works carried out on our behalf by our civils contractor BAM RItchies and local firm Frank L John (Shetland) Ltd. have now been completed. We would like to thank local community members for their patience whilst the traffic management enabling these works to take place was implemented. The temporary site area has now been demobilised and removed.

SSEN Transmission is set to begin a programme of ground investigations along the proposed onshore cable route from Weisdale Voe to the site of the Kergord Converter Station. As part of the Shetland HVDC Connection project, the work will be undertaken by specialist contractor BAM Ritchies and local firm Frank L John (Shetland) Ltd. The works will begin on 28 October and will last for approximately four weeks, dependent on weather. Ground investigation works are a key part of the project development process and the results of these investigations will provide the project with valuable information to help inform the final design of the proposed onshore cable route, which connects the proposed subsea cable and converter station elements of the project.

In July 2019, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission held two consultation events in Lerwick and Wick to consult on our plans to install a subsea HVDC cable between Weisdale Voe on Shetland and Noss Head in Caithness as part of the wider Shetland HVDC connection project. Prior to submitting an application for a marine license to Marine Scotland and an application for a marine works license to Shetland Islands Council, we will be holding two additional events to present responses to comments received during our consultaton. 08 Oct 2019 - Sound Public Hall, Lerwick - 4.30pm - 7.30pm. 10 Oct 2019 - Wick Assembly Rooms, Caithness - 4.30 - 7.30pm. We welcome all local stakeholders and interested parties to attend our open-door events and meet with the project team to discuss our plans. For more information, please come along to an event. If you are unable to attend an event, further information is also available from the project webpage or can be obtained via the project Community Liaison Manager

SHE Transmission would like to extend thanks to those who took the time to attend either our Wick or Lerwick marine licence consultation events last month to find our more about our proposals. The consultation period closes this Friday 23rd August and we will be now taking the opportunity to collate and review all feedback recieved ahead of preparing to submit our application for a HVDC cable between Weisdale Voe on Shetland and Noss Head in Wick, Caithness later this year.

We are holding public consultation events regarding proposals to install a subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable between Weisdale Voe in Shetland and Noss Head near Wick in Caithness to enable the connection of renewable energy on Shetland. The events will be held as follows: Tuesday 23 July 2019 Wick Community Campus (Wick High School) 15:00 - 19:30 and Thursday 25 July 2019 Mareel Lerwick, Shetland 15:00 - 19:30. We would like to extend an invitation to local people and interested parties to attend our open-door events to discuss our plans with the project team and to let us know their views prior to a submission of a marine licence application to Marine Scotland. As part of the Caithness Moray project marine safety initiative, we have a number of copies of the UKHO chart of the Moray firth that will be available to local boat owners on a first come basis For more information and to provide comment, please come along to an event. If you are unable to attend an event, further information is also available from the project webpage or can be obtained via the project Community Liaison Manager.

We have recently completed a detailed geophysical and geotechnical survey of a Subsea route between Wick in the North East of Scotland and the Shetland Isles. The survey, conducted by our survey contractor MMT, utilised several vessels working in harsh North Sea winter conditions to deliver high quality data on the 253km long route and elements such as seabed features, sub-bottom conditions and soil analysis. The information from the study will be used to inform a Marine Licence Application for a subsea cable which will be submitted to Marine Scotland later this year, following public consultation events due to be held in both Wick and Lerwick this Spring.

Last week, representatives from our development team supported a renewables focused supply chain event and networking lunch organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Lerwick. Around 80 representatives from local businesses attended the event to find out further information about the expected economic and social opportunities that proposed renewable projects could bring to Shetland should developers be successful in bidding into next year’s CfD auction. We welcomed the opportunity to engage with attendees and answer questions regarding the needs case process and would encourage all local contractors who are interested in potential opportunities with SSEN to sign up for project updates on our Shetland webpage.

SHE Transmission has now begun the tendering process to appoint a cable supplier for the land and subsea HVDC element of the project. Industry leading suppliers were provided with the opportunity to bid for the contract to both supply and install the 600MW cable. The tendering process involves site visits to both Caithness and Shetland, so that potential contractors can assess how the cable will be installed and subsequently costed whilst also identifying any potential challenges and solutions to the installation. This process will continue throughout this year with the aim of having project costs available for submission to Ofgem in January 2019.

On 23 May, SSEN held a customer engagement event at the Shetland Hotel designed to update stakeholders on the proposed HVDC connection project and the process involved for securing regulatory approval. This forum also afforded developers an opportunity to update SSEN on their plans for projects that may come forward as a result of the proposed connection to the Scottish Mainland. Developers interested in attending the event were encouraged to contact SSEN to confirm their place in advance and the event was well attended with 35 attendees joining the team in discussion. Key themes and issues which emerged from the discussions included the future security of demand on Shetland, with many attendees raising questions in regards to this. The team explained that Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) have identified that with targeted investment, security of supply can be maintained through the existing power station out to 2025 when a more enduring solution will be required. SHEPD has confirmed its allowance requirements to Ofgem for the extension period, and Ofgem is currently consulting on the allowances. In the meantime, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission will continue to progress the case for a transmission link based on the contracted requirements of generators. SSEN were also afforded the opportunity to further test the principles of the alternative approach applied in Orkney on the issues faced by generators in Shetland. Overall, attendees welcomed the principles of ensuring that projects that are ready to connect can access available capacity on the network and welcomed further opportunity to engage on the detail of these proposals; setting out their ambition to take forward generation development should the capacity become available. SSEN will be consulting on the ‘alternative approach’ later in the summer (when more details will be shared via this website) and encourages all parties that are considering development to update us via a Notice of Interest form by close of play 30 June. A number of attendees from Local Suppliers also joined the event to find out more about engaging in any supply chain opportunities that may arise. Whilst the event was primarily focussed on generation activity, the project team are considering holding a ‘meet the buyer’ event in 2019 once the SSEN tender process is concluded due to the high level of local supply chain interest. In the meantime, interested local suppliers can register on SSE’s online procurement portal, Open4Business, for future tender opportunities. Details about the portal can be found here: https://www.sseopen4business-highlands.com/ Information slides shown at the event are available to download from the ‘Project Documents’ tab.

Having recently introduced some fresh faces to our Shetland Project Team, we arranged a site visit earlier this week to introduce ourselves and to provide an update to local stakeholders, Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council and our colleagues in Operations based in Lerwick Power Station. We also took the opportunity to revisit the planned substation location at Upper Kergord, the proposed subsea cable landing point at Weisdale Voe and our engineers took full advantage of the sunny weather by walking the planned cable route between the two. If you would like a copy of the project update presented this week please see the 'Project Documentation' tab for a download of the Power Point.

We have today responded to the UK Government consultation on treatment of non-mainland GB onshore wind projects, to read our response please go to the ‘Project documentation’ section of the project website