Fugro is carrying out nearshore surveys for SSEN Transmission’s proposed Western Isles high voltage direct current (HVDC) link, a project designed to transfer up to 1.8GW of renewable energy from Scotland’s islands to the UK mainland.
Niall MacLeod, project director for SSEN Transmission, said the surveys represent another key milestone in progressing the connection, which will link the Western Isles to the GB transmission network for the first time. He added that feedback gathered during marine consultation events has helped shape the potential cable landfall locations now being taken forward through the survey programme.
The new HVDC link will comprise around 83km of underground cable and 81km of subsea cable between SSEN Transmission’s Lewis hub converter station and AC substation in the Western Isles and the mainland.
Fugro is combining geophysical mapping with geotechnical boreholes using its ARAN® 250 jack-up platform to build a detailed understanding of seabed and coastal conditions. Investigations are covering several potential landfall sites near Arnish Point on Lewis and Dundonnell on the Scottish mainland, with soil samples undergoing laboratory testing at Fugro’s Wallingford facility.
Survey work at Arnish Point has now been completed, while operations at Dundonnell are expected to finish in February, subject to weather conditions.
Matthew Chappell, Fugro’s regional service line director for nearshore, said the integrated approach will provide SSEN Transmission with the information required to progress the scheme safely.
“Our integrated approach, combining specialist platforms, expert teams, and advanced laboratory analysis, will give SSEN Transmission the reliable Geo-data needed to make informed engineering decisions and help deliver clean, secure energy to communities across the UK safely and sustainably,” Chappell said.
