Public Urged to View SSEN Proposed Transmission Connections

By theorkneynews on November 22, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is hosting a further round of public consultation events on Orkney to provide an update on its proposed transmission connection to the main GB transmission system.

Following the comments received from the consultations held in the Spring and detailed studies looking at technical, environmental and cost considerations; SSEN has now published its proposed subsea and land cable routes, as well as its proposed substation location.

a new indoor substation located at Finstown
an underground cable installed to connect this to Warebeth/Billia Croo to the west of Stromness on the Orkney mainland
a subsea cable, connecting to Dounreay in Caithness, allowing electricity from Orkney to be transmitted to areas of demand across the main GB transmission system.

‘Ready to Connect’

SSEN has revaluated the Orkney electricity system and the requirements from all generators looking to connect and is now proposing an alternative approach to allocate the necessary volume of capacity to underpin the case for the proposed reinforcement. This pilot approach would see capacity allocated on a ‘ready to connect’ basis which is intended to ensure full use is made of the proposed reinforcement and capacity is made available to Orkney developers at the earliest opportunity.

Based on the feedback received from the local community SSEN can confirm it will not be considering steel lattice towers.

Peter Jordan,SSEN’s Project Manager, said:

“We are committed to take on board the views of the local community where possible, as demonstrated by our decision not to use steel lattice towers, and we would encourage anyone with an interest in the project to come along to one of the consultation events to meet our team and make their views known.”

Lauren Milligan, SSEN’s Commercial Policy Manager,said:

“Orkney is home to some of Europe’s greatest renewable resources and there is a clear need to provide a transmission reinforcement to allow Orkney to realise its vast renewables potential.

“Due to a number of reasons it has not been possible to make a robust case to obtain the necessary regulatory approval to proceed with the proposed reinforcement. The alternative approach we are looking to introduce would significantly strengthen the investment case and help Orkney build on its proud renewables legacy.”

The public consultations events will take place at the following locations: