Shetand HVDC link converter station starts to take shape

It has been a busy 6 months since SSEN Transmission and its principal contractor for the Shetland HVDC link project civil works, BAM Nuttall, broke ground at the Kergord site. After a lot of hard work and some challenging weather conditions, the footprint of the HVDC converter station is beginning to emerge.

Since starting construction, the main focus of the Kergord team has been the initial civil engineering, the creation of a new access tracks and a haul road to the site, as well as setting up a temporary site compound which includes the site offices and welfare facilities. With local company Garriock Bros Ltd providing the precast foundations the offices sit on.

The team marked another major milestone last month, laying the first concrete on site, pouring the blinding concrete for the basement construction for the service building.  This was closely followed by the mainline drainage for the site.  The concrete was supplied by local firm ENM Plant, from their BSI accredited concrete batching plant at Scatsta, supplying around 170 cubic metres of concrete over 2 days.

Construction Manager, Andy Noble said “Pouring the first concrete on site marks are real turning point for the project.  After months of hard work preparing the site, setting up the site offices and welfare facilities, we are now beginning the main construction works.

“It is great to see what has been achieved already, I would like to thank everyone involved, including all the local businesses who have made reaching this milestone possible.”

SSEN Transmission and its principal contracts have committed to working with the local supply chain throughout construction. Confirming that in just 6 months, over £1m has already been spent with local suppliers, agreeing contracts to deliver PPE, operational plant and machinery and materials.