Energy / SSEN reaches ‘hugely important milestone’ as work finishes on Kergord-Gremista link
SSEN says work on the new Kergord to Gremista electricity transmission link – which will allow Shetland to connect to the national grid – has now been completed.
However, it will not be energised until a battery storage system in Lerwick is completed – which would then enable the town’s power station to go into standby mode. This is expected to be completed later this year.
Spanning 22km across overhead lines and underground cables, the 132kV connection provides a secure transmission route between the new Gremista grid supply point (GSP) and Kergord substation, where the subsea Shetland HVDC link connects to the island.
SSEN said the new link provides the infrastructure needed to connect Shetland homes and businesses to the national grid for the first time, “enabling electricity to be supplied into the local distribution network once all supporting systems are in place”.
The company added that this will “enhance security of supply and support future energy demand across the islands”.
However overhead lines installed for the project, from Tingwall to near Sandwater, are unpopular with many in the community.
Meanwhile the battery storage system being constructed next to the GSP in Lerwick is designed to keep Shetland’s “lights on” incase the power station needs to come out of standby mode in the event of an outage on the subsea HVDC cable.
The Kergord-Gremista project is separate to SSEN’s ongoing Shetland north reinforcement work, which is the cause of the many traffic lights on the A970 and Dales Lees roads in recent months.
SSEN said the Kergord-Gremista project has delivered “significant economic benefits” locally.
More than £23 million of contracts have been awarded to over 25 Shetland-based businesses.
Local firms including CW Johnson Plant, EWN Plant Ltd and Ness Engineering have contributed to a wide range of project activities, including civil works, plant and equipment hire, specialist services, logistics, accommodation and transport.
More than 30 local jobs were created during the lifetime of the project, including local apprenticeships.
Construction was delivered by SSEN Transmission working closely with principal contractors Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Omexom.
At the project’s peak, more than 200 people were working on the link, including 50 based locally in Shetland.
SSEN Transmission’s project director Mark Kelly said: “Completing the Kergord to Gremista link is a hugely important milestone for Shetland and for everyone involved in delivering this complex project.
“By connecting into the local electricity distribution network, this new link will support Shetland’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system and represents another clear step away from reliance on oil and gas-fired power stations, with the full transition due later this year.
“We’re also proud of the strong local legacy this project leaves behind, with more than £23 million invested directly in Shetland businesses whose expertise and commitment have been critical to its success.
“We want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we built this project, which will help support Shetland’s energy future for generations to come.”
David Stacey, energy director for Scotland at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said: “At Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, we’re fully committed to helping to deliver the biggest upgrade of the UK’s national grid in a generation.
“This is essential to meeting Scotland’s growing energy demand and strengthening resilience in the country’s offshore regions.
“We’re proud to have delivered the Kergord to Gremista link alongside SSEN Transmission, our partners and local suppliers, creating lasting benefits for local communities, businesses and the environment that will live on long after our work on site is complete.”
Elaine Anley, business unit general manager for Substations Omexom, added that the work is “testament to the strong collaboration between SSEN Transmission, Omexom, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, and the wider supply chain”.
“This was a complex project delivered in a challenging environment, and we are extremely proud of the team’s commitment to safety, quality and environmental stewardship throughout construction,” she said.
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