Following extensive consultation with the local community throughout the past 18 months, SSEN has made a number of commitments and changes to its project design as a direct result of local feedback.  This includes:

• A commitment not to use steel lattice transmission towers
• Landscaping proposals to minimise visual impact of Finstown substation
• A proposal to underground the onshore infrastructure around the fourth Churchill Barrier
• Consideration of a new subsea cable from Hoy to the Orkney mainland as an alternative route to connect renewable generation looking to connect on Hoy

SSEN is also committed to ensure no new overhead wooden poles and transmission lines are within 100m of residential properties.

Peter Jordan is the Project Manager for the proposed substation at Finstown, the subsea cable and the underground land cable from Warbeth to Finstown elements of the Orkney transmission reinforcement.

He said:

“Throughout the development of the project we have worked closely with the local community and where possible, have tried to factor in their feedback as we have refined our plans.

“As this is the final round of public consultation we are planning to hold for these elements of the project, it is the last opportunity the local community to influence our final designs before we submit our planning applications.

“I would therefore encourage anyone with an interest to come along to our events and respond to our consultation.”

Duncan McCall is the Project Manager for the onshore elements to connect Orkney renewables to the  transmission reinforcement .

He said:

“As a responsible developer, throughout the development of the Orkney transmission project we have demonstrated our commitment to work closely with the local community and where possible, factor their feedback into our designs.

“By extending the development period of the onshore infrastructure part of the project we are providing the local community and other interested stakeholders the opportunity to help further shape and refine our proposals in advance of submitting our planning applications for this part of the project, which will now happen next year.

“We would like to thank the local community for their constructive feedback to date and look forward to discussing our plans further with as many members of the community as possible next week.”

Next week’s consultation events will be held across the following locations and will include 3D modelling of the proposed infrastructure, providing a realistic visualisation of how the project will look against the local landscape:

• Monday 24 September  Stromness Community Centre, Stromness 14:00 – 18:00
• Tuesday 25 September Cromarty Hall, St Margaret’s Hope 14:00 – 18:00
• Wednesday 26 September Flotta Community Centre, Flotta 09:30 – 13:30
• Wednesday 26 September  NorthWalls Community School, Hoy 16:00 – 19:00
• Thursday 27 September Firth Community Centre, Finstown 14:00 – 18:00
• Friday 28 September  Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall 14:00 – 18:00

“A number of renewable energy developers in the Orkney Islands have requested a connection to the electricity network. The Orkney connection project would provide a new transmission connection between Caithness and the Orkney Islands, and associated onshore infrastructure required to support this connection.”

To find out more about the Orkney Connection Project click here