Surveys for major energy infrastructure works underway

AN IRISH ocean data company is currently carrying out geophysical surveys in inshore waters near Braewick and Minn Islesburgh, in Northmavine, using uncrewed surface vessels.

XOCEAN is working for SSEN Transmission in support of its proposed second HVDC subsea cable linking Shetland to the Scottish mainland.

SSEN Transmission had previously confirmed that it is actively considering two new possible landfall sites for the proposed second subsea cable linking into the national grid.

XOCEAN’s five metre long, remotely operated X-06 vessel has been seen in Busta Voe over recent days.

The company confirmed that no surveys are taking place in Busta Voe, but the vessel is being launched from the nearby Delting Boating Club.

“The data collected will help inform the routing and design of the proposed marine cable, with survey works expected to be completed this month,” XOCEAN’s marketing manager Carol Fitzgerald said.

Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission has confirmed that ground investigation works are due to commence near Toft, which has been described as the “least constrained” site for a proposed northern substation hub.

“We expect geophysical surveys to take place until the beginning of September, and geotechnical surveys will begin on 17 August and last until mid-November, a period of approximately 13 weeks. Rigs are likely to appear around 17 August,” the company said in an update.

“As part of these works, we expect peat restoration to take place from the beginning of October until late November.”

The northern hub is expected to feature a 400kV substation, a 200kV substation and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link converter station. The hub would link via underground cable to the landfall site for the second HVDC cable.

Most of these projects depend on whether the two proposed offshore floating wind farms to the east of Shetland are commercially viable and will go ahead.