We've announced details of our forthcoming new investment in Orkney’s local electricity network, which connects the islands’ homes and businesses to the grid. The projects will give Orkney’s communities an even more reliable network, which will also provide greater capacity to support future economic growth and electrification.

The projects – which will be delivered with our contract partner Freedom – involve the construction of new substations, the reinforcement and upgrading of existing overhead lines carried on wooden poles, and the installation of several kilometres of new underground cabling.

Construction to deliver this programme of works is due to begin in the spring of 2027, with overall completion anticipated around the turn of the decade.

A summary of planned projects:

  • A new Grid Supply Point at Finstown. This will become the main connection between Orkney’s distribution network and the wider electricity transmission system, where upgrades are already well advanced. SSEN Distribution’s development will support the export of more renewable electricity by the islands’ clean energy generators, while also providing upgrades at the heart of the local network.

  • Reinforcement work at St Mary’s will improve the reliability and capacity of electricity supplies to South Ronaldsay, Burray, Lamb Holm and Gibbs Holm, through a combination of new cabling, transformers, and substation investment.

  • A new primary substation at New Hatston will provide an upgraded, enlarged network hub which will support the expected growth in demand for electricity in and around Kirkwall.

The combined investment for the three projects above is estimated at around £55m.

A new electricity connection for Quanterness Wind Farm will also be delivered; this will support the transfer of locally-generated clean power, so it can safely be transmitted to the wider electricity network and on to customers. Plans are advanced with Orkney Islands Council for sections of the Quanterness Wind Farm connection and our Hatston upgrade to be combined. This will provide further efficiencies in cost and delivery, and limit disruption to road users.

The benefits these upgrades will deliver

This investment will make Orkney’s local network even more robust and resilient, which is ever-more important given Scotland’s increasingly-volatile climate.

Meanwhile, more network capacity means the there’s electricity to spare for new EV chargers and heat pumps; technologies which can help households cut their emissions, and their monthly bills. Greater network capacity also creates more scope for exporting power from locally-generated renewable sources to the wider grid.

Looking after the environment – and your community

Prior to works starting, comprehensive surveys are being undertaken. These will confirm the suitability of cable routes, and ensure there’s minimal impact on existing infrastructure, land use, and access routes. Where possible, shared corridors will be used to limit disturbance to the land, and the latest in low-disruption construction methods will be employed when circumstances permit.

Keeping people informed

In addition to the community events which have been advertised on social media and in the local press, our engagement team will keep the local authority and other stakeholders up-to-date with progress, as works continue.

A degree of work on some of the islands’ roadways will be needed as ourselves and Freedom deliver these network improvements. This will be done with the minimum of disruption, but prior to works beginning we ask for road users’ understanding and patience during periods when traffic management needs to be in place. We'll work with Orkney Islands Council to limit delays, and to maintain access for residents, businesses, and the emergency services.

Charlene Longden, SSEN Distribution’s project manager for Orkney, says:

“We’re about to embark on a big upgrade to Orkney’s local electricity system. The projects we’ll deliver will further improve the resilience and reliability of the local network. They’ll support the decarbonisation of Orkney’s communities and businesses, while also helping local generators of clean power connect to the wider network and export the energy they produce.

“From the outset of planning for this project, we’ve worked hard to minimise the impact on the environment and communities while these essential network improvements are delivered. My team and I are ready to respond to queries people may have about what we’re planning, and we look forward to answering their questions in due course.”  

You can read more about the plans to upgrade Orkney's network here