Subsea Surveys for Shetland Connection

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc (SHE Transmission) recently completed a detailed geophysical and geotechnical survey of a Subsea route between Wick in the North East of Scotland and the Shetland Isles. Survey contractor MMT surveyed the 253km route to acquire data for the refinement of the subsea section of SHE Transmission’s Shetland project.

The survey, which utilised several vessels working in harsh North Sea winter conditions to deliver the high quality data on elements such as seabed features, sub-bottom conditions and soil analysis, began on 23rd October and was completed on 3rd December with no reported safety incidents or injuries.

The information from the study will be used to inform a Marine Licence Application for a subsea cable which will be submitted to Marine Scotland later this year, following public consultation events due to be held in both Wick and Lerwick this Spring.

The HVDC subsea cable link is an integral part of SHE Transmissions wider Shetland project which also includes a 320/132kV substation and HVDC converter station at Upper Kergord on Shetland, a HVDC switching station at Noss Head in Caithness and associated onshore infrastructure required to complete the connection.  The aim of the project is to facilitate the connection of over 600MWs of renewable generation proposed on the Shetland Isles requiring a connection to existing transmission infrastructure in the GB Grid if constructed.

To find out more about the project and register for updates, please visit the project webpage: www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/shetland