Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has awarded a contract to the Global Marine Group to install and commission a 10.8km electricity cable between Rousay and Westray in the Orkney Isles.
The new cable is being installed as part of SSEN’s ongoing electricity distribution subsea cable replacement programme and will replace the existing 35-year-old cable which is coming to the end of its operational life.
“We’re very proud to have secured our first cable replacement contract with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and we are looking forward to working with the SSEN team to deliver this vital project,” said Mike Daniel, Global Marine Group.
“Global Marine Group brings together a vast set of experience in this field, the CWind & Global Offshore team will execute this project and I have every confidence that we deliver this successfully. We are looking forward to building a long-term partnership with SSEN.”
Maintaining infrastructure
The Rousay -Westray submarine cable replacement is one of a number of projects which are being progressed to maintain the electricity distribution infrastructure serving the Scottish islands, ensuring continued security of supply for Scotland’s island communities.
From now until 2023, around 90km of submarine cables are due to be replaced - a fifth of the total number currently in operation.
The Rousay-Westray works are scheduled to start in Spring 2018, with the new cable due to be commissioned by Summer 2018 when it will be providing a continued safe and reliable source of electricity to local homes and businesses.
By Anne-Marie Causer