Specialist contractor Bam Ritchies has begun an eight week programme of ground investigations for a Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Transmission project on Shetland.
The ground investigations programme kicked off last week (14 April). It is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete.
It will allow Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission to examine sections of a proposed 132kV electricity transmission network overhead line and cable route. The line and cabling would provide connections back to a substation in Kergord. This is currently under construction as part of the Shetland high voltage direct current (HDVC) link.
The ground investigation will take place between:
Bam Ritchies is carrying out the works, with local firms providing plant hire, fencing and local support services.
The crew comprising 25 people is divided across five teams. The programme includes drilling around 40 boreholes and excavating 300 trial pits. It also covers monitoring and environmental and archaeological surveys where necessary.
The drilling rigs needed for the works will be towed to the sites by specialised low ground pressure vehicles. These are used due to their low impact on peat lands.
In addition, two low ground pressure excavators will be used for excavating trial pits on the more sensitive areas. One standard tracked excavator will be used on areas with more stable ground conditions.
Overseeing the works will be a team of environmental and archaeological specialists.
Read about ground investigations for SSEN Transmission's Skye electricity network reinforcement project.
SSEN Transmission project manager Edward Holten said: “This is a key step in our plans to build the Kergord to Gremista and Kergord to Yell connections, which will allow us to investigate the ground conditions in the area to inform our final engineering design.
“The two 22km circuits between Kergord and Gremista, which will be a combination of overhead line and underground cabling, will provide a connection between the proposed Gremista GSP [grid supply point] and Kergord substation."
He added: “Upon completion, this will provide a connection to Shetland’s local electricity distribution network, connecting the islands to the GB electricity network for the first time, helping secure Shetland’s future security of supply.”
The aim of the Shetland renewable connections project is to allow for supply and export of renewable energy generation on Yell and mainland Shetland.
There is currently significant renewable generation contracted to connect to the grid in Shetland. These renewable projects include the Energy Isles and Beaw Field wind farms on Yell, and the Mossy Hill wind farm west of Lerwick.
As the electricity transmission network owner for the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission has to provide connections to electricity generators looking to connect to the electricity transmission network.
These works will help connect the wind farms on Shetland to the Scottish mainland via the Shetland HDVC connection. The Shetland link includes approximately 260km of cabling, the majority of which will be in the sea.
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Tagged with: Bam Ritchies electricity cables ground investigation OHL renewables SSEN
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