DRILLING operations are underway at Rattray Head in Aberdeenshire as part SSEN Transmission’s Spittal to Peterhead high voltage direct current (HVDC) project.
The works represent the start of what SSEN Transmission said is one of the most technically complex elements of the project.
NKT and its sub-contractor, LMR Drilling, will carry out the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) beneath the coastline to create the connection between onshore and offshore infrastructure.
The organisation added that the Rattray Head landfall HDD is expected to be one of the longest forward-drilled landfall HDD operations for power cables ever carried out, extending approximately 1.7 kilometres from the onshore landfall compound to the offshore exit point in the seabed.
Once complete, four HDD ducts will be installed beneath the coastline and nearshore environment. Three ducts will house cables required for operation of the HVDC link, while a fourth spare duct will provide additional resilience for the future.
The installation is a key component of the Spittal to Peterhead HVDC subsea link, which will help transport renewable electricity generated in the north of Scotland to homes and businesses across the country. The project forms part of a wider programme of network investment designed to support energy security and the transition to a cleaner, more resilient electricity system.
By using HDD technology, the cables can be installed deep beneath the coastline and nearshore waters, significantly reducing surface disruption and helping to minimise impacts on local communities and environmentally sensitive coastal habitats.
Niall Macleod, project director for SSEN Transmission’s Spittal to Peterhead HVDC subsea link, said, “The start of drilling at Rattray Head represents a significant milestone for the project. This technically complex installation will create the essential link between our onshore and offshore infrastructure, helping deliver a major reinforcement of the UK’s electricity transmission network.
“Horizontal Directional Drilling allows us to install critical infrastructure beneath the coastline while minimising impacts on the surrounding environment and local communities. Reaching this milestone is testament to the extensive planning and collaboration that has gone into preparing for the execution of these works.”
