The Caithness-Moray transmission reinforcement project represents the largest investment in Scotland’s northern energy infrastructure since the heyday of the big hydro power development era of the 1950s.
The Caithness-Moray project is centred on a 100 mile underground and subsea cable running beneath the Moray Firth, using High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology to take off offshore wind-farm generated.
It enables around 1,200 Megawatts of additional renewable generation capacity to connect to the national grid.
Work on the project is progressing well, with onshore installation of the HVDC cable in Caithness now largely complete.
Work to install the subsea cable is due to get under way next year, with the whole project on schedule for completion by the end of 2018.
Meanwhile a report published by Perth-based utility giant SSE shows that most – £643.5 million – of the £1.1 billion total investment will be spent with UK suppliers and contractors.
More than £260 million in Gross Value Added will be contributed to the Scottish economy; and the project will support the equivalent of 4,975 years of employment in Scotland.
Meanwhile, SSE has recruited a new annual intake of more than 100 power-line engineer apprentices.
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