SSEN Transmission Announces Capacity Reservation Agreement for Shetland 2 HVDC Link
SSEN Transmission has recently signed a capacity reservation agreement (CRA) with a consortium comprising Sumitomo Electric Industries and Van Oord for the supply and installation of a second 525 kV HVDC cable link between Shetland and the Scottish mainland, known as the Shetland 2 HVDC Link.
The cable for the project will be delivered from Sumitomo’s manufacturing facility, currently under construction in Nigg, in the northeast of Scotland.
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, expressed his delight at reaching this milestone with Sumitomo and Van Oord for the Shetland 2 project, emphasizing the progress made at Sumitomo’s new cable manufacturing facility and the significant boost to the Highland economy.
Project Details and Milestones
Shetland 2 will span 330 kilometers between Shetland and the mainland, facilitating the transmission of 2 GW of renewable electricity to Great Britain’s network. The project is part of SSEN’s strategic transmission network plan “Beyond 2030,” which entails a £5 billion investment in the north of Scotland by 2035.
The construction of the circa 150,000 m2 facility is progressing as planned, with piling works nearing completion and factory foundations being installed. The subsequent phases will involve steelworks and factory fit-out over the next 12-15 months.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
The facility is expected to employ 150 individuals, with additional indirect employment opportunities expected to double the full-time employee count. This investment in the highly-skilled British supply chains is projected to create thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks commended the initiative, highlighting the potential for Scotland’s offshore expertise to drive the expansion of the UK’s clean energy sector.