SSEN Transmission has marked a year of delivery on its flagship Orkney Link, the project that will connect Orkney to the GB high-voltage electricity transmission network for the first time.

Over the past 12 months the scheme has shifted from early works to full construction across multiple sites, hitting key engineering milestones while bringing clear economic and environmental gains to local communities.

The programme comprises new substations at Finstown in Orkney and Dounreay in Caithness, a 53km subsea cable across the Pentland Firth, and underground land cables linking into the substations at both ends. Around 375,000 people-hours have been recorded across the two substation sites in the last year.

At Finstown, earthworks and drainage have advanced alongside the erection of steel frames for substation buildings. Approximately 100,000 cubic metres of rock have been excavated and crushed on site, with the majority reused to create the platform, significantly reducing imported material. The team has also completed all foundation concrete pours, paving the way for remaining building frames to go up.

In Caithness, the Dounreay West Substation has progressed its earthworks and drainage and begun steelwork, laying the groundwork for the key connection point into the national transmission grid.

One of the most complex achievements to date is the landfall horizontal directional drilling at Warebeth in Orkney, where the subsea cable will make landfall. Two bores, each 1,200 metres long and 36 inches in diameter, were installed over a five-month programme—described as the longest and largest forward drilling HDDs in Europe—delivered with precise engineering and marine coordination and without significant incidents. More than half of the land cable ducts on Orkney have also been installed.

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Local economic benefits are already being realised. An estimated £100 million of contract spend is expected to go to regional suppliers over the life of the project, supporting more than 45 businesses across Orkney, Caithness and the wider Highlands. More than 100 local jobs have been supported so far, including around 40 roles created by Global Infrastructure and John Gunn & Sons at Dounreay. Orcadian firms such as BDS and Orkney Builders are also contributing key services.

SSEN Transmission has extended its lease at The Old Library coworking space in Kirkwall to provide a convenient base for project teams and a meeting hub close to stakeholders.

Community engagement has been central, with early and ongoing dialogue and a presence at local events. The project supported the 2025 Island Games—held in Orkney for the first time—by sponsoring athletes from Team Orkney, Team Western Isles and Team Shetland, and scheduling works to minimise disruption. Teams have additionally taken part in beach cleans and school STEM activities.

Ian Clark, Project Director at SSEN Transmission, said: "Passing the one-year milestone on the Orkney link project is a proud moment for everyone involved. The progress made across our sites, particularly the successful completion of Europe's largest forward drilling HDD installation, is a testament to the skill and dedication of our teams and contractors.

"With steelwork now well underway at both Finstown and Dounreay Substations sites, and the underground land cable corridor in Orkney striding forwards, the project is making great progress.

"We're equally proud of the relationships we've built with local communities and the positive impact the project is having across Orkney and Caithness. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we deliver this vital link for Scotland's clean energy future."

Mark Flemming, Construction Director, from Global Infrastructure, said: "Working on the civils package for Dounreay Substation has been a fantastic opportunity for our team. Over the past year, we've seen the site develop from a greenfield location into a major construction project, with strong progress across the buildings and wider civil engineering works.

"A key part of our approach has been to maximise the use of local subcontractors. We've been able to bring in companies such as John Gunn & Sons, Norbloc, North Coast Excavations and G.A. Barnies, alongside a number of other valued local supply chain partners. This has created real employment opportunities, supported local skills, and ensured that a significant share of the project's economic benefit stays within the region.

"It's a clear example of how major clean energy infrastructure can deliver positive and lasting value for local businesses and communities."

Stephen Kemp, Managing Director of Orkney Builders, said: "We're delighted to be part of the team working on the Finstown Substation as part of the Orkney link project, and are pleased to now be progressing the big packages we're involved in.

"It has provided opportunities for us to bring in our trusted local supply chain partners for specialist services such as flooring, firestopping, and painting and decorating, ensuring that the benefits of this investment are felt across the local sector. Importantly, this project has also allowed us to create some unusual opportunities for our apprentices, which supports our ongoing drive to develop a skilled workforce that will continue to support Orkney long after the project is complete."