en.Wedoany.com Reported - SSEN Transmission has successfully completed one of the most complex engineering phases of the Orkney Connection project. The £900 million project will, for the first time, connect the Orkney Islands to the UK mainland grid.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was recently completed at Dounreay in Caithness, which SSEN described as one of the project's most complex engineering phases. The work was carried out by main contractor RJ McLeod, with support from subcontractors OCU Group, Lucion, Kirkwall-based Leask Marine, and HDD specialist Peter McCormack & Sons.

The operation involved drilling and installing an 830-meter underground pipeline from the Dounreay landfall area to beneath the seabed offshore. The pipeline is designed to allow future submarine cables to be pulled ashore without significant disruption to the coastal environment. The completion of this work means that both sections of HDD at either end of the future cable route are now in place. A similar operation, approximately 1,200 meters in length, was successfully completed last year at Warebeth in Orkney.

Throughout the construction process, environmental specialists worked with the project team to ensure safe delivery and minimize impacts on the sensitive marine and terrestrial environment. The project also employed innovative construction techniques, including the use of a remotely controlled excavator for the final seabed drilling section. SSEN stated that this approach improved safety for the marine construction team while demonstrating innovative engineering solutions for delivering major power infrastructure projects.

Ian Clark, SSEN Transmission's Orkney Connection Project Director, said the completion of the Dounreay HDD is a significant milestone for the project and a testament to expertise, collaborative spirit, and innovative capability. It was one of the most complex construction activities in the project, requiring meticulous planning to ensure safe delivery and protection of the surrounding environment. With both landfall HDD sections completed, the goal of connecting Orkney to the National Transmission Network has taken another step forward, which is crucial for unlocking renewable energy potential and supporting the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system.