SSEN Transmission’s preferred bidder for HVDC link
SSEN Transmission has announced it has selected Sumitomo Electric Industries and its subsea cable installation partner, Van Oord Offshore Wind UK as preferred bidder for Shetland 2.
Image credit: SSEN Transmission
UK, Scotland: SSEN Transmission has announced it has selected Sumitomo Electric Industries and its subsea cable installation partner, Van Oord Offshore Wind UK (the Sumitomo Electric Van Oord Consortium) as preferred bidder for the proposed Shetland 2 High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link subsea cable. The need for a second HVDC link from Shetland to the main GB transmission system was confirmed by the independent Electricity System Operator, National Grid ESO, as part of their latest GB wide strategic network plan, Beyond 2030.
The link will help enable the connection of three ScotWind offshore wind farm sites adjacent to Shetland and support decarbonisation and energy security ambitions. With Shetland 2 the anchor project supporting and enabling Sumitomo Electric Industries investment in their new cable manufacturing facility at Nigg, the announcement marks a milestone in delivering 100s of new highly skilled supply chain jobs in the Scottish Highlands.
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said: “We are delighted to reach Preferred Bidder Status with Sumitomo Electric Industries and its subsea cable delivery partner, Van Oord Offshore Wind UK, for the manufacturer and installation of the Shetland 2 HVDC subsea link. Sumitomo’s investment in a new cable manufacturing facility in Nigg will help deliver a homegrown supply chain to help support our energy security and net zero infrastructure requirements.”
Osamu Inoue, President of Sumitomo Electric Group, said: “I am pleased to announce commencement of this innovative High-voltage cable factory in Scotland, and sincerely appreciate SSEN Transmission’s decision to select us as the preferred bidder of Shetland 2 project to enable our significant investment here in UK.”
Arnoud Kuis, Managing Director Van Oord Offshore Wind, said: “As a consortium partner of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Van Oord Offshore Wind UK is very pleased to be nominated as the preferred contractor for the Shetland2 project by SSEN Transmission.”
This agreement follows SSEN Transmission’s successful procurement exercise last year, where SVOC was placed on SSEN Transmission’s Framework of Contractors. Contractual negotiations with SVOC will continue in advance of entering into Capacity Reservation Agreements and Contract Award status for the Shetland 2 scheme later this year. Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission awaits Ofgem, concluding the development of the regulatory framework for Shetland 2 and other ‘Beyond 2030’ investments, with a decision on this expected shortly after.
Source: SSEN Transmission
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