Did you know that work is currently underway to transform the electricity network on Shetland - work that will see it connected to mainland GB for the first time ever?
At the moment, electricity is distributed to homes and businesses on Shetland via SSEN Distribution’s 33kV network. This is an islanded network with no electricity network connection to the UK mainland – but that is all set to change as SSEN Transmission is working on a new High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea cable between Shetland and the mainland, as well as a new onshore 132kV network on the island itself.
And to enable all this new infrastructure to power the communities across Shetland, it needs to join up with Distribution’s existing network of cables, overhead lines and substations – this connection takes place in what’s known as a Grid Supply Point (GSP).
The GSP site is part of SSEN Distribution’s £100m investment in the future of Shetland’s electricity network, an investment which will also see the development of a Standby Solution - so that if ever the Transmission infrastructure is out of operation, for example during essential maintenance, the power will still keep flowing across the island communities.
The GSP site is currently under construction, with SSEN Distribution approaching the end of its part of the build – after which it will be handed over to SSEN Transmission who will complete the civil and electrical works required to connect the GSP to the transmission and distribution networks.
SSEN Distribution’s Project Director, Mark Kelly, was on Shetland at the end of last month and made sure he found one of the windiest locations near the GSP site to shoot this short video – we hope you find it an interesting glimpse into what’s happening at the site of this historic project for Shetland and SSEN.