Orkney Islands step closer to mainland connection as substation works start

SSEN Transmission has broken ground on a new electricity substation that is part of the subsea link that will connect the Orkney Islands to the UK mainland for the first time.

The start of work at the Finstown Substation is said to mark a major step forward for the Orkney-Caithness 220 kV Subsea Link as it will serve as the main transmission electricity hub in the islands.

SSEN Transmission and the principal contractors BAM and Siemens Energy gathered at the site to mark the official start of construction. Nexans will manufacture the offshore sections for the interconnector at its plant in Halden, Norway, the onshore cable sections in Charleroi, Belgium, and the accessories in Cortaillod, Switzerland.

Besides this substation in Orkney, the project will include the installation of around 14 kilometers of underground cable to where it makes landfall at Warebeth, west of Stromness, and 53 kilometers of subsea cable, which will connect into a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness where connection will be made to Great Britain’s electricity transmission network.

With construction underway at Finstown, the contractor is beginning with enabling works for the site, such as setting up the temporary welfare compound for their workforce and SSEN Transmission staff before moving on to start earthworks in the area.

Work on the new Dounreay West Substation where the subsea cable will make landfall on the Scottish mainland began in the summer, and full energization of the project is expected in 2028.

“Breaking ground at Finstown is a huge moment for the Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project and marks a significant step forward in connecting Orkney to the GB transmission network for the first time,” said Alan Redman, SSEN Transmission’s Lead Project Manager.

“The link will allow over 220MW of renewable energy to be connected to the national grid, helping to contribute to the fight against climate change and boost the country’s secure, homegrown power.”

The Orkney-Caithness 220 kV Subsea Link is part of SSEN Transmission’s Pathway to 2030 investment program, a £20 billion program of electricity transmission upgrades across the north of Scotland.  Together, the projects are expected to support 9,000 jobs in Scotland and 20,000 throughout the UK.

UK energy regulator Ofgem gave its final approval of need for the subsea electricity transmission link to Orkney in July 2023.

According to SSEN Transmission, the Orkney Islands are home to some of the world’s greatest resources of renewable electricity, from established onshore wind to emerging marine technologies, where Orkney is at the forefront of global developments in marine energy generation.

The company is hosting a community Q&A event in Stenness Hall on November 14, from 3 to 7 p.m., to share more details about the project.