The project, which was first announced last Autumn, will see teams from OCU installing two new High Voltage cables along a 43km route between Gremista and the north of Mainland Shetland.

With some of these works taking place on public roads, both ourselves and OCU are keen to give everyone in Shetland as much advance notice as possible as to where - and when - the work will be happening.

We first began engaging with communities in Shetland about this major project last October, hosting community drop-in events at Brae and Lerwick during the development stage of the project. And now, with works on the cable installation scheduled to start on 16 June, the project team will be returning to host the next round of information events on 27 and 28 May. 

Visitors to the sessions will have the opportunity to meet the team delivering the project and learn more about the recently confirmed timeline of these essential works, as well as the benefits the project will deliver to local homes and businesses.

SSEN Distribution’s Project Manager, Steve Cowie, said:
“This project involves a significant infrastructure upgrade for Mainland Shetland and will increase network capacity for future development in support of the uptake of low carbon technologies, as well as helping to improve the reliability and security of the power supply for communities across the islands.”
David Forrest, Operations Project Manager, OCU Group, said:
"We have been engaging with local supply chain and will be mobilising local teams to begin enabling works along sections of the carriageway from 16 June onwards. We’re also working with the Shetland Island Council Roads Service to ensure communities have advance notice of the works, and the upcoming engagement events will be a valuable opportunity to meet local people and explain more about the works we have planned.”

SSEN Distribution has previously confirmed the cable route, which is 43km long, involves working on a mixture of private land and public highways and will take around two years to install. The advanced cabling works portion of the project, which is 12km in length, is expected to last approximately nine months and will involve teams carrying out a rolling programme of works in sections of approximately 500m at a time. 

Engagement Events

27 May, from 12.00 - 6.00 pm, Brae Hotel, Brae, ZE2 9QJ,

28 May, from 12.00 - 6.00pm, Lerwick Town Hall, Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0HB 

Learn more about the project here: North Shetland Reinforcement Project - SSEN