Shetland HVDC Connection

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Shetland HVDC Connection
Location
CountryScotland, United Kingdom
FromUpper Kergord Valley, Shetland
Passes throughNorth Sea
ToCaithness HVDC switching station, near Wick
Ownership information
OperatorScottish Hydro Electric Transmission
Technical information
TypeSubmarine cable
Type of currentHVDC
Total length260 km (160 mi)
Power rating600 MW
DC voltage320 kV
No. of poles2 (Symmetrical monopole)
No. of circuits1

Shetland HVDC Connection is a high-voltage direct current submarine power cable under construction to connect the Shetland Islands to the Scottish mainland.

Current status[]

Construction earthworks have started at both ends of the link, at Kergord in Shetland, and in Caithness.[1]

As of April 2021, preparation work on installing the land cable in Shetland was expected to start imminently, with the cable itself due in the summer of 2022.[1]

The subsea cable installation is expected in 2022 and 2023. [2]

Route[]

The interconnector will start at the Upper Kergord Valley converter station in Shetland. From the converter station an underground cable will be laid to a landing area in Weisdale Voe. From there, a subsea cable will run to landfall at Noss Head in Caithness, with onward connection to an HVDC switching station north of the village of Staxigoe in Caithness.[3][4]

The route of the cable will cross TAT-10, TAT-14 and Atlantic Crossing 1 telecommunication cables and the Piper–Flotta oil pipeline.[5]

Technical description[]

The interconnector will connect to the existing 320 kV Caithness - Moray Link to form a three terminal HVDC network, with converter stations at Spittal in Caithness; Blackhillock Substation in Moray; and Upper Kergord on Shetland. The Shetland leg will have a power rating of 600 MW;[6] the Spittal and Blackhillock converters are rated at 800 MW and 1,200 MW respectively.[7] This will be the first multi-terminal HVDC interconnection in Europe.[8]

Project developer[]

The project is being developed by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission, a subsidiary of SSE plc.

Project economics[]

It is estimated that it will cost more than £600 million.[9] The project is needed for development of Shetland's renewable energy potential and it is necessary for the projects such us the Viking Wind Farm and the Aegir wave farm.[10][11]

It also contributes to the security of Shetland's electricity supply,[9] especially as Lerwick Power Station is nearing the end of its operational life.[12]

History[]

The project was proposed in 2007.[5] In January 2008, the report published by the Crown Estate found the project would be "economically and technically possible".[13] At the same year, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission filed planning application and started public consultations.[14]

Originally, the cable was planned to run from Shetland to 320 km (200 miles) to Portgordon on the Scottish mainland,[14][15][16] and then on to Blackhillock substation, near Keith, Moray via 25 km (16-mile) underground cable.[14][16] However, the end point was moved to Caithness, and the remaining part of the connection was constructed separately as the Caithness - Moray Link.[3]

In 2019, Ofgem announced that it was minded to authorise construction, subject to the Viking windfarm winning a CfD contract in the government auction held in September 2019. Viking Energy was unsuccessful in this auction, putting the future of the interconnector in doubt. [17] [18]

SSEN submitted a revised proposal in January 2020. Ofgem carried out a final consultation on this revised proposal, and concluded in April 2020 that it would grant conditional approval for the link, conditional on Ofgem receiving sufficient evidence by the end of 2020 that the 457 MW Viking Wind Farm project is likely to go ahead.[6]

In April 2020, Ofgem approved revised proposals for the project, subject to "evidence that the Shetland Viking Wind Farm project will go ahead".[6]

On 17 June 2020, the Viking Wind Farm sponsor, SSE Renewables, made a final investment decision to proceed with the wind farm investment, conditional on certain industry code modifications, and "the outcome of the consultation on Ofgem’s minded-to position to approve the transmission link, expected in July 2020".[19] According to Shetland News, this meant that both the Windfarm and the HVDC Connection "are likely to go ahead".[20]

On 16 July, Ofgem gave final approval for the connection.[21]

Contracts for construction were awarded in August 2020.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Building Shetland's Energy Future: Shetland Newsletter Issue 2" (PDF). SSEN Transmission. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Final milestone for Shetland HVDC link complete following appointment of main contractors". 3 Aug 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Caithness HVDC switching station - To enable a proposed subsea transmission cable from Shetland to connect to the network, we are proposing to construct an HVDC switching station north of Wick in Caithness". SSEN. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Caithness HVDC Switching Station". Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b Assessment of the Grid Connection Options for the Scottish Islands (PDF) (Report). Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 2007-03-27. pp. 8–9, 37–38. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  6. ^ a b c "Ofgem approves 600MW Shetland transmission link". Ofgem. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Caithness Moray HVDC Link". ABB corporate website. ABB. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  8. ^ "First multi-terminal HVDC interconnection in Europe will boost renewable energy and enhance power security". Press release. Hitachi ABB. 3 Aug 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Ofgem backs Shetland subsea power cable plans". BBC News / Orkney and Shetland. BBC. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. ^ "UK: Aegir Wave Farm to Benefit from Viking Wind Farm". Subsea World News. 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  11. ^ "UK: Viking Decision Boosts Shetland Wave Project". Subsea World News. 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  12. ^ "Ofgem consultation on the costs of the new energy solution for Shetland". Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Undersea power cable 'possible'". BBC News. 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  14. ^ a b c Shetland HVDC Connection. Consultation Report (PDF) (Report). Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited. July 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  15. ^ Shetland HVDC Connection. Marine Environmental Appraisal Subsea Cable Summary (PDF) (Report). Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited. July 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  16. ^ a b Keeping the lights on and supporting the growth. A consultation of our plans for the next decade (PDF) (Report). Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited. p. 26. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  17. ^ "'Disappointed' but still 'committed' – Viking Energy reacts to CfD decision". Shetland Times. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Update on the SWW Final Needs Case for the Shetland electricity transmission project and potential next steps" (PDF). OfGEM. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Viking approval secures £580m green recovery investment". Viking Energy. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  20. ^ Chris Cope (17 June 2020). "Viking Energy wind farm looks set to go ahead as SSE agrees to proceed with £580m project". Shetland News. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Major Shetland subsea power cable to mainland approved". BBC News. BBC. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.

External links[]

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