Orkney Connection Project

Consultations 25th February - Flotta 26th February - Graemsay 27th February - Kirkwall 28th February - Hoy 1st March - Burray 2nd March - Rendall 3rd March - Finstown

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Project Overview Who we are

Scottish Hydro Electric

Transmission Plc (SHE Transmission)

Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution Plc

(SHEPD)

Other SSE Businesses

Southern Electric Power

Distribution (SEPD)

What is the difference between Transmission and Distribution? Electricity Transmission is the transportation of electricity from generating plants to where it is required at centres of demand.

The Electricity Transmission network, or grid, transports electricity at very high voltages through overhead wires, underground cables and subsea cables. The transmission network connects large scale generation, primarily renewables, to central and southern Scotland and the rest of Great Britain.

The Electricity Distribution network is connected into the Transmission network but the voltage is lowered by transformers at electricity substations, and the power

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc (SHE Transmission) is the licensed owner of the electricity network in the north of Scotland. Operating under licence means that we have obligations that we must fulfil. These obligations include providing an efficient co-ordinated and economic network to transfer electricity and ensuring we provide connections to generators.

There is a high demand to connect from new generators, who rely on Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to

Previous project proposals

Following the Crown Estate leasing round in 2010, SHE Transmission identified that the transmission network needed to be developed to accommodate the contracted connections arising from initial applications for generation connections from a combination of onshore wind and marine schemes.

To this end SHE Transmission developed a phased programme of network development works for Orkney based on a new substation near Bay of Skaill and a subsea cable connection to the Scottish Mainland. During 2013 and 2014, all of the wave energy developers along the west coast of Orkney announced their withdrawal from wave energy development. This removed the requirement for the new substation near Bay of Skaill and the subsea cable between Mainland Orkney and Dounreay. The project was

We are part of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, operating under licence as Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc for the transmission of electricity in the north of Scotland.

In total we maintain about 5,000km of overhead lines and underground cables – easily enough to stretch across

is then distributed to homes and businesses through overhead lines or underground cables.

Overview of Transmission projects

Shetland

Existing infrastructure Completed

Under construction Orkney

provide a physical link between the new sources of power and electricity users. SHE Transmission are delivering a major programme of investment to ensure that the network is ready to meet the needs of our customers in the future.

Existing Network The existing electricity network is a distribution network operating at 33kV or below and the Islands are connected to mainland Scotland by two 33kV subsea cables installed in 1982 and 1998 respectively between Rackwick Bay on

put on hold in 2014. Project need

Generation has continued to seek connection in Orkney and at present there are five contracted connection agreements between National Grid and developers totalling 181MW of new generation on Orkney. The planned level of generation of these five developers schemes is shown below.

the Atlantic from John O’Groats all the way to Boston in the USA. Our network crosses some of the UK’s most challenging terrain – including circuits that are buried under the seabed, are located over 750m above sea level and up to 250km long.

Potential development Advanced planning

Western

Lairg

Mybster

Gills Bay

Spittal

Hoy, and Murkle Bay near Thurso. These cables have a total capacity of 40MW and the current connected generation in Orkney uses all of the available export capacity in the existing 33kV cables. Demand on the islands varies between

Table 1 Renewable Energy Development Capacities on Orkney (2022)

Developer Generation (MW Total)

1 Westray South Tidal 60

Isles Loch Buidhe (Bonar Bridge)

7MW and 46MW and is secured in the event of a network

The landscape and environment that contribute to the challenges we face also give the area a rich resource for renewable energy generation. There is a high demand to

Skye

Mossford

Beauly

Moray Firth

Knocknagael

Tomatin

Blackhillock

Kintore

Peterhead

fault with the assistance of a standby diesel generator installed at Kirkwall.

2 Brims Tidal 30

3 Hesta Head 20.4 connect from new wind, hydro and marine generators which rely on Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to

Fort Augustus

Fort William

Aberdeen There is no additional capacity in the existing network and consequently any increase in the connected generation on Orkney will require a reinforcement

4 Costa Head 20.4 provide a physical link between the new sources of power Dalmally

Perth

5 SHEPD – Finstown 50 and electricity users. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is delivering a major programme of investment to ensure that the network is ready to meet the needs of our customers in the future.

Our responsibilities

As we are the only company that owns an electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland we are closely regulated by the energy regulator Ofgem. We are issued with a licence to operate and we must adhere to the terms of the licence. For this reason we operate on a very separate basis to other SSE businesses. Our licence stipulates that we must develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity transmission.

Kintyre

Arran

Hunterston

Denny

Kincardine

of the existing network. or Stenness

Total 180.8

The volume of generation looking to connect to the network is in excess of the both the present Orkney Islands network capacity and the capacities of normal distribution network infrastructure. Consequently transmission network reinforcement and development will be needed to accommodate this volume of generation.

Development proposals Options selection process SHE Transmission Proposals SHE Transmission is developing proposals to provide a transmission connection from the Scottish mainland to Orkney and to develop transmission infrastructure on Orkney including new 132kV overhead lines, subsea cables and a number of new substations. It is intended that a single 220kV Alternating

Developer Proposals

New substations are also required near to the following locations to facilitate the connection of renewables energy generators:

Costa Head (Costa Head Wind Farm)

Rendall (Westray South Tidal Array)

To enable the selection of a reduced number of economic, efficient and coordinated options for more detailed development, SHE Transmission initially undertook an assessment of potential transmission reinforcement connection options for the connection of generation on Orkney.

Current (AC) cable would be installed to connect the Orkney Islands with Caithness.

To provide a new 132kV transmission connection for the Orkney Islands, the following infrastructure is likely to be required:

Developer

South Ronaldsay (Hesta Head Wind Farm);

East Hoy (Brims Tidal Array)

The initial assessment considered the Caithness transmission network for the connection of generation from Orkney. A number of potential subsea cable landfall areas in Orkney and Caithness were identified, as well as marine corridors which could potentially accommodate a subsea cable link between Orkney and Caithness.

The Orkney to Caithness connection options produced by the above exercise were ranked using a multi criteria

SHE Transmission substation search areas and environmental designations

New transmission subsea cable connection between the Orkney Islands and Caithness;

Developer substation locations are shown on the map below.

assessment methodology and the most favourable were used to further develop options for the infrastructure development on Orkney.

New subsea or directionally drilled transmission cable connections between Hoy, South Ronaldsay and Mainland Orkney.

New 132kV transmission infrastructure on Mainland Orkney, Hoy and South Ronaldsay

New substation in the vicinity of Finstown;

New substation close to the marine cable landfall location (in the Stenness or Orphir area, or South Ronaldsay);

Developer substation search areas

An additional evaluation of the remaining options was carried out using relevant criteria including technical challenge of installation, environmental impact, cost and consenting risks as well as potential impact on designated areas and features.

The existing substation at Dounreay, and the planned new substation at Gills Bay, have both been identified as possible connection points between Orkney and the national electricity transmission system.

There are a substantial number of environmental and cultural heritage designations in the Orkney Islands and Orkney Waters which have been considered as part of options development and appraisal, these will continue to be taken into account as the project progresses. Key environmental designations are shown in the map below.

Standing Stones of Stenness

Preferred options

As a result of the options selection process, three options have been identified as being potentially suitable for transmission network development to accommodate new generation schemes in and around Orkney, as presented in the maps below.

There are a number of key differences with the options presented, although the same configuration of substation locations and developer connections is included in each option.

Preferred marine corridors options

As part of the development of the corridors for the subsea cable, SHE Transmission has undertaken both desktop studies and site visits to identify potential landfall areas, indicated as red areas on the map below. The viability of any landfall will be reviewed against its strategic fit, environmental constraints, constructibility and cost.

Subsea cable Link

Subsea cable Link

Technology options

In order to achieve the necessary capacity requirements, various technology options are currently being assessed.

Assessment criteria includes technical, environmental, programme, health and safety, system requirements and cost. In terms of support and conductor assessment, the following configuration options are considered technically feasible:

• Single circuit trident wood pole with new technology conductors;

• Two single circuit trident wood poles

with conventional conductors; • Double circuit non conventional

pole (composite) with conventional conductors;

• Double circuit steel lattice tower

with conventional conductors; and • Underground cable

The most optimal solution for Orkney could potentially include combinations of these options.

Single Circuit Trident Wood Pole Line Standard pole height is between 11-17m, and pole spacings are in the range of 80-120m.

Two Single Circuit Trident Wood Pole Lines

These would be constructed in parallel, approximately 100m apart. Standard pole height is between 11-17m and pole spacings are in the range of 80-120m.

Composite Pole Lines

Standard pole height would be between 22- 26m, and pole spacings are approximately 200m.

Option A Option B

Landfalls and proposed marine corridors

Steel Lattice Towers

Tower heights are typically between 25- 30m, and tower spacings will vary from 200-250m.

Cable laying – offshore and onshore

Example of a cable directional drilling site Undergrounding

Option C

High Voltage Power Cable Laying Vessel

Next steps in project development

Following these consultation events, SHE Transmission will review all feedback on the project options, along with technology requirements.

Once the preferred project option has been selected, three main elements of the project will be progressed, namely:

The development process

The chart below shows the main stages in the development process, and the opportunities there will be for local people and stakeholders to provide feedback as the project develops.

Overhead Line Routing;

Substation Site Selection; and

Marine landfall selection and marine cable routing.

Outline design of substation sites will also be progressed.

Further public consultation is planned for Summer 2017, and as part of these consultation events, SHE Transmission intends to present preferred substation locations, preferred on shore routes and preferred marine cable routes and landfalls.

Given the number of environmental designations and the rich and varied bird life encountered in the Orkney Islands and in Orkney waters, it is intended that bird surveys for the project will start in Spring 2017. You may see ornithologists out and about undertaking this important survey work.

Options Assessment Stage – Options Consultation

Document

Routing and site selection stage – Substation Site Selection

and preferred site – Overhead line routing and

preferred alignment options – Marine route selection

Preferred Proposals – Substation Proposals

(Pre Application Consultation) – Finalised Alignment for

Overhead Lines – Final Marine Cable option

(Marine Consent Consultation)

Preparation of Consent Applications – Substation Planning

Applications – Overhead Line Section 37

Applications

– Marine Consent Applications

Consultation – Stakeholder

Engagement – Public Engagement

Detailed Options Consultation – Stakeholder

Engagement – Public Engagement

Consultation events for pre-application proposals – Stakeholder

Engagement

– Public Engagement

Formal Consent Consultations – Through relevant

planning and consenting processes

Feb 2017

Summer 2017

Time scale TBC

Late 2018

Submission of Consent Applications (2018) – Substation Planning Applications – Overhead Line Section 37 Applications – Marine Consent Applications

2018

Photograph of Ornithology surveys taking place

The main stages in project development, and estimated timescales for completion are given in the diagram to the right.

Construction Commences – 2020 (subject to consents being granted)

Commissioning

2020

2022

What happens now and how do I have my say?

Thank you for taking the time to find out about our project.

Your Comments Please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS

Thank you for taking the time to find out about our plans for the Orkney Connection Project.

We appreciate all feedback and thank you for taking the time to provide your comments. You can complete a feedback form today, or you can post it back to us at the address provided.

Please provide any comments to us at the earliest opportunity and by the 31st March 2017 at the latest.

Feedback submitted to SHE Transmission will be considered and reviewed by the project team.

We appreciate all feedback and thank you for taking the time to provide your comments. You can complete a feedback form today, or you can post it back to us at the address provided. Information can also be provided by our Community Liaison Manager upon request. Feedback submitted to SHE Transmission will be considered and reviewed by the project team.

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Comments

Comments can be submitted as follows:

At the exhibition today: Complete a Comment Form and give it to a member of the team.

By post: Complete a Comments Form and post it to our Liaison Manager (details below).

By email: Complete a Comments Form and email it to our Liaison Manager (details below).Information can also be posted out to you by our Liaison Manager upon request.

Please provide any comments to us at the earliest opportunity

Get in touch with our Community Liaison Manager: Lisa Marchi-Grey

lisa.marchi@sse.com

07825 015 507

Lisa Marchi-Grey SHE Transmission SSE 10 Henderson Road Inverness, IV1 1SN

Q1 Do you understand the need for this project?

Q2 Have we explained the options assessment process adequately?

Q3 Can you rank the options presented in order of preference (1-3)?

Option A Option B Option C

Q4 Why have you ranked the options in this way?

Q5 What are your views on the preferred overhead line technology options presented? Could you rank these in order of preference (1-4)?

Steel Lattice Towers Single Circuit Wood Pole Trident

Composite Towers Twin Circuit Wood Pole Trident

Q5a Why have you ranked the options in this way?

Q6 Do you have any comments on any of the marine aspects of this development? e.g. Marine cable routes or marine cable landfalls?

Q7 Do you have any other comments on the Orkney Connection Project? Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. If you would like your comments to remain anonymous, please tick here

Comments can be submitted as follows:

• At the exhibition today: complete a Comment Form and give it to a member of the team.

• By post: Complete a Comments Form and post it to our Liaison Manager

• By email: Complete a Comments Form and email it to our Liaison Manager, Information can also be posted out to you by our Liaison Manager upon request.

Communities Liaison Manager Lisa Marchi - Grey Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission PLC 10 Henderson Road Inverness, IV1 1SN

Email: lisa.marchi@sse.com