en.Wedoany.com Reported - SSEN Transmission has commenced horizontal directional drilling works at Rattray Head near Peterhead, as part of the 2GW Spittal to Peterhead High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea cable project.
The operation, launched this month, marks a critical phase in connecting onshore and offshore power infrastructure in northeast Scotland. The contractor is using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology to construct a 1.7-kilometer underground conduit beneath the coastline, from the onshore worksite at Rattray Head to the subsea exit point. According to the company, this is expected to be one of the longest forward-drilled landfall HDD operations for a power cable project.
Upon completion of the drilling, four pipes will be installed beneath the coastline and nearshore environment: three to house cables for the HVDC connection operation, and a fourth as a spare for future use. The entire subsea connection is part of SSEN Transmission's network investment plan, valued at over £22 billion (approximately $29.54 billion), aimed at upgrading the electricity grid in northern Scotland.
The 166-kilometer subsea cable will connect Sinclair Bay in Caithness to the recently approved Netherton hub near Peterhead, and will link to the proposed Banniskirk hub in Caithness. SSEN Transmission estimates the drilling operation will take approximately 12 months. Cable supplier NKT and its subcontractor LMR are responsible for executing the HDD works, providing engineering expertise and specialized equipment.
Niall Macleod, Project Director for the SSEN Transmission Spittal to Peterhead HVDC subsea connection, stated that the commencement of drilling at Rattray Head is a significant milestone for the project. The HDD technology enables the installation of critical infrastructure beneath the coastline while minimizing impact on the surrounding environment and local communities. This subsea connection is one of the most technically complex elements of the broader Spittal to Peterhead HVDC project, which will ultimately enable renewable electricity generated in northern Scotland to be transmitted to communities and businesses further south.
