Shetland HVDC Link transmits first power ahead of full commissioning later this summer

SSEN Transmission’s Shetland High Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) Link in the North Sea has transmitted its first power from a wind farm to the mainland, nearing full energization.

The £660 million Shetland HVDC Link connects Noss Head in Caithness and Weisdale Voe in Shetland.

The 260-kilometer subsea cable project transported first power from the Viking Wind Farm on Shetland to the GB mainland ahead of full energization expected later this summer.

The milestone comes as the final turbine was installed and turned at SSE Renewables’ 443 MW wind farm, set to be the UK’s most productive onshore wind farm once fully operational.

“The first flow of power from Shetland to the mainland on the Shetland HVDC link is a key moment for the Shetland community. Full energisation, linking Shetland to the GB transmission system for the first time will be crucial in delivering Shetland’s energy security as well as enabling extensive renewable generation development and export,” said John Scott, SSEN Transmission’s Programme Director.

“A tremendous collective effort from our teams so far, we can now look forward to working through the remaining commissioning phases of the project before it is fully energised later this summer.”

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