SSEN Transmission has announced that work is expected to begin this summer on a project to connect the Orkney Islands to the GB electricity transmission network for the first time.

The project will involve installing a new subsea high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission cable, which will enable the connection of up to 220MW of new renewable electricity to the national grid. It will consist of a new substation at Finstown in Orkney, along with around 14km of underground cable across Orkney to where it makes landfall at Warebeth, then 53km of subsea cable, which will connect into a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness.

Project teams expect to begin construction on the project in summer this year, with the cable expected to be energised in 2028.

All planning consents are in place for the point-to-point connection, with work underway to plan the on-island infrastructure required to connect and transport Orkney renewable generators to Finstown substation, before onward transmission to demand centres in the north of Scotland and beyond.

Last week teams from SSEN Transmission held a drop-in information event in Finstown with members of the public to inform them about plans for the project, which is moving forward at pace.

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To help ensure there is suitable accommodation available for the workforce involved in building the project, a new temporary Workforce Accommodation Camp is expected to be constructed. This will help house the workforce who will be involved in the installation of the HVAC substation at Finstown and underground cable from the substation to landfall at Warebeth. The temporary camp will be installed near the Finstown Substation site within the site area boundary, and is expected to accommodate up to 230 staff. The accommodation block will be removed after the project is complete and the land restored as before.

Last year the project team held a successful Meet the Buyer Event which was attended by over 65 local businesses, and provided an opportunity to hear from organisations who can help support the construction of the project. The project team are now working with contractors to establish if there are any future opportunities to get involved.

Further public events are expected to take place in advance of construction as construction timeframe firms up.

SSEN Transmission Lead Project Manager Peter Jordan said:

"It was great to meet with members of the public last week and tell them more about our Orkney Interconnector project as we get closer towards the first spade in the ground and construction getting underway.

"It also meant we could share more about our plans to build a temporary Workforce Accommodation Camp next to our future Finstown Substation site, which will help us meet our accommodation needs for our teams while also ensuring we do not impact on the local housing supply or take up key hotel spaces that may be used by tourists, which are vital to the island's economy.

"The onshore transmission infrastructure for Orkney remains in the early stages of development, and no decisions have been made on routes or locations for the on-island generator connections and the engineering design has not been determined. However, it is likely a combination of overhead, underground and subsea infrastructure will be used depending on key specific geographical, environmental and technical considerations as development of the project advances.

"We will consult extensively with the local community and key stakeholders to help inform the development of this project, with consultation on the onshore elements expected to take place later this year."