SSEN Transmission has confirmed that the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate has approved a variation to the existing marine licence for the Western Isles high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable link.

The change permits an increase in the link’s capacity, marking another milestone towards a cleaner, more secure energy system.

The Western Isles link forms a key part of SSEN Transmission’s planned £22bn-plus investment programme to upgrade the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland. The original marine licence was granted in 2021, and the variation was required to reflect the higher-capacity design of the new cable.

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Once complete, the project will connect the Western Isles to the GB transmission network via an 82km subsea cable after a lengthy development phase. SSEN Transmission says the connection will help unlock the islands’ significant renewable energy potential and deliver associated economic benefits.

The licence decision follows the positive planning consent for the Lewis Hub, granted in November.

Welcoming the decision, Peter Watson, Lead Marine Consents and Environment Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: "Securing this variation to the existing marine licence marks the culmination of many years of development, and is an important milestone in our programme to strengthen Scotland’s transmission network and support the transition to cleaner, more secure energy.

The unique environment we are working in and the close working relationships with our stakeholders will allow us to look at new ways of monitoring the marine environment and incorporate nature-inclusive design and marine restoration into the construction of the link.

The new year will bring a new focus to our engagement with the local maritime community as well as communities in Little Loch Broom and Arnish, and we look forward to working closely together as the project progresses."