SSEN Transmission’s plans for a subsea cable linking Lewis to Dundonnell at Little Loch Broom to be highlighted; event at Badcaul Church to explore details for Western Isles High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Link project
Plans for a major undersea power cable that will connect more than 1.8GW of island energy projects to the grid in Wester Ross will go on display to the public next month.
A public drop-in event, which will be held at Badcaul Church Hall in Dundonnell on September 11, will highlight the proposals for the Western Isles High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Link project. The event will run from 6-8pm.
SSEN Transmission’s proposed subsea cable will traverse the Minch between Lewis and the mainland, coming ashore at Little Loch Broom.
And residents in Wester Ross will be able to meet members of the project team, who will lead a presentation on the marine cable link and the various elements involved in its installation.
Work on the cable linking Dundonnell to Arnish Point in Lewis is set to begin in early 2028, when installation will begin on the transition joint bay and subsurface ducting arrangement that will be installed where the cable comes ashore at Little Loch Broom, and Arnish Point.
Activities that will take place off the coast of Wester Ross in early 2029 include marine survey work, and the installation of the subsea cable using techniques that are designed to minimise disruption to marine life.
Following the presentation, the project team will answer questions from audience members.
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Kevin Morrison, community liaison manager for the Western Isles HVDC Link project, said: “We are holding this event following requests from the local community for more information on our plans for the marine cable link, which we received during the mainland cable information event held earlier this year.
“The project team will be on hand to talk people through the various elements of the project, including the methods we will use to lay the cable, drilling activities, the marine survey data that will help inform our approach, and of course the steps we will take to protect the marine environment.
“We hope as many people as possible can attend the event at Badcaul Church Hall on September 11, and look forward to sharing more information on this important project, that is key to unlocking the vast renewable energy potential of the Western Isles in support of national clean energy and energy security ambitions.”
Members of the public who wish to attend are being invited to submit questions prior to the event, to assist the project team in providing the right level of information based on matters of most interest. Please email questions to kevin.morrison@sse.com.