Flower power as SSEN Transmission install plant pots in Aberdeenshire community
An Aberdeenshire community will enjoy some flower power this summer after receiving help to install four large flowerpots by staff working on SSEN Transmission’s Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) subsea transmission project.
Staff from SSEN Transmission and contractors Keltbray rolled their sleeves up to help manoeuvre the large planters into position around the village, following a call for assistance from Boddam Community Council.
The flowerpots were installed in support of the Boddam Brighter Villages initiative, in preparation for planting in June.
The village lies just south of Peterhead, from where the planned c.436km high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable – the longest in the UK – will run to Drax in North Yorkshire.
Gillian Doig, Community Liaison Manager for SSEN Transmission on the EGL2 project, said:
“We were delighted to help Boddam Community Council by lending a hand in installing the planters around the village. The pots were a bit larger than we expected, so our staff had to use some brawn to move them into position!
“Naturally our team have a can-do attitude that served them well in this task, and we are all looking forward to seeing the planters add a welcome splash of colour to the village over the summer months.
“We will continue to support local initiatives as part of our ongoing community engagement taking place as part of the EGL2 project, and we hope to assist in future with other local improvements that enhance community wellbeing.”
Lisa Looker from Boddam Community Council added: “We’re grateful for the help we’ve had to install the flowerpots around the village, and for the donation of compost to help with the planting.
“Without the team’s help we would still be waiting for someone to come and do this for us at a cost, so it has made a huge difference in our efforts to brighten up the village.
“We’re all now looking forward to planting the flowers and I’d like to thank the team for their support, which will help create a beautiful display for people to enjoy.”
About Eastern Green Link 2
EGL2 is a 525kV, 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England delivered as a joint venture by National Grid and SSEN Transmission.
EGL2 will be the longest HVDC cable in the UK and the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, providing enough electricity to power 2 million UK homes.
The subsea HVDC cable system is approximately 436km in length with new convertor stations at either end to connect it to existing transmission network infrastructure. HVDC technology provides the most efficient and reliable means of transmitting large amounts of power over long distances subsea.
EGL2 is part of the significant amount of new network infrastructure required for net zero and will play a critical role in supporting the UK’s future security of supply, reducing dependence and price exposure to volatile global wholesale gas markets. Find out more about this ground-breaking project by visiting www.easterngreenlink2.co.uk
Image: (left to right) Wladimir Szarejko and Andrew Currie from Keltbray with Lisa Looker from Boddam Community Council and Joe Lenzie from the Eastern Green Link 2 project.