SSEN Transmission gets green light for Orkney transmission link in UK

SSEN Transmission, an arm of energy company SSE, has received green light from the UK’s energy regulator Ofgem for the Orkney transmission link, a subsea electricity transmission connection to Orkney.

The approval from Ofgem has cleared the way to connect Scotland‘s final island group to the GB Transmission network.

The Orkney transmission link is anticipated to connect all three of Scotland’s main island groups to unlock huge volumes of low carbon power and support net zero and energy security targets.

The subsea electricity transmission project includes the connection of up to 220MW of new renewable electricity and consists of a new substation at Finstown in Orkney.

In addition, the Orkney transmission project will lay down approximately 57km of subsea cable, connecting to a new substation at Dounreay in Caithness.

SSEN Transmission gets green light for Orkney transmission link in UK. Photo courtesy of SSE.

Rob McDonald — SSEN Transmission Managing Director said: “We are delighted Ofgem has provisionally approved our well-advanced plans for a new transmission link to Orkney, which is a hugely significant milestone in finally unlocking Orkney’s vast renewable potential and is the final piece in the jigsaw in connecting Scotland’s three main island groups.

“We would like to thank Ofgem for its constructive engagement over recent weeks and months and we now look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver this long awaited and much needed investment, which will deliver significant local and national socio-economic benefits, as well as supporting 2030 Government targets, our future energy security and a pathway to net zero emissions.”

In March 2018, SSEN Transmission submitted investment plans to Ofgem to build a new subsea transmission link to provide the additional capacity to meet the Orkney renewable developers growing demand.

In September 2019, Ofgem set a series of conditions Orkney renewable developers had to satisfy before the regulator approving the investment case.

The conditions have now largely been met following the consent of Faray Wind Farm in December 2022.

Last December, Ofgem okayed the Western Isles link and work to connect Shetland.