SSEN Transmission has broken ground on a new electricity substation in Finstown, Orkney, a significant milestone in the Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project.

The Subsea Link, a major infrastructure project valued at over £900 million, will connect Orkney to the GB electricity transmission network for the first time. This will enable the integration of up to 220MW of new renewable energy into the national grid, contributing to the UK's energy security and net-zero goals.

The Finstown Substation will serve as the primary transmission electricity hub in the Orkney Islands.

In addition to the Finstown Substation, the project will involve the installation of approximately 14km of underground cable from the landfall point at Warebeth, west of Stromness, to the substation. Furthermore, 53km of subsea cable will connect the Orkney substation to a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness, where it will be integrated into the GB electricity transmission network.

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Construction work at Dounreay West Substation began in the summer, and the full energisation of the project is anticipated in 2028.

Alan Redman, SSEN Transmission's Lead Project Manager, said: "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.

"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.

"With our contractor also progressing with construction work at Dounreay, we're making a strong start to the project. We'll do all we can to keep any disruption to a minimum and we'll be sure to keep the community updated as the project progresses."

SSEN Transmission is hosting a community drop-in Q&A event in Stenness Hall on Thursday 14 November, from 3-7pm, to share more details about the project and answer any questions that people may have.

The Orkney-Caithness 220kV Subsea Link project is part of a wider £20bn programme of electricity transmission upgrades across the north of Scotland known as SSEN Transmission's 'Pathway to 2030' investment programme, which is required to meet Scotland and the UK's energy security and clean power targets, helping secure power for generations to come.  Together, those projects will support 9,000 jobs in Scotland, and 20,000 throughout the UK.