Plans for new electrical infrastructure at Sullom Voe Terminal ahead of grid connection

A PLANNING application has been submitted for new electrical infrastructure that would allow Sullom Voe Terminal to connect to the local grid for the first time.

The application relates to new switching compound and equipment room modules.

The terminal is currently fuelled by its own 100MW gas-fired power station, but this will be decommissioned when SVT is connected to the grid.

Work is ongoing to lay cabling up through Shetland’s Central Mainland to facilitate connection to the grid in what is called the North Mainland Shetland Reinforcement Project.

Planning documents confirm an application is underway with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to extend a derogation to allow the SVT power station to operate through to 2027.

They added that once the project is complete the power station will be decommissioned, but “there are no proposals for this to be removed at this stage”.

Lerwick Power Station is also due to go into standby once work is completed on connecting Shetland’s network into the national grid via the HVDC subsea cable, which is expected to be next year.

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A battery storage system is also being constructed in Lerwick to keep Shetland powered if there is an outage on the HVDC cable, with the power station needing time to come out of standby mode.

It was recently confirmed that SSEN is set to add new 6MW engines to Lerwick Power Station to increase its generating capacity and meet the higher demand expected in coming years when it does come out of standby.

Meanwhile SSEN is also proposing to build a new substation building with a 33kV switch room in the Firth area, adjacent to the existing one.

A planning statement said the substation is required as part of a major infrastructure upgrade scheme, “designed to enhance the electricity distribution network in the Shetland Islands”.

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“This essential upgrade will increase network capacity for future development in support of the uptake of low carbon technologies, as well as helping to improve the reliability and security of the power supply for communities across the islands,” it added.

The footprint of the new substation would be 87.9m2, with its height coming in at 6.8 metres.

Construction is expected to take around 12 months, “helping with the creation of 15-20 jobs in Shetland”.

This comes in addition to previous plans for a substation building, with a 33kV switch room, near to Sullom Voe Terminal.