ABB wins $800 million order for Caithness-Moray subsea HVDC link

• 10 years ago (2014-09-09)
• Junior Isles

Europe 1089 Renewables 776

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ABB has won an order worth over $800 million from Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission plc to provide the Caithness-Moray high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission link, which will connect the electricity grid on either side of the Moray Firth in northern Scotland.

ABB will design, engineer, supply and commission two 320 kV land-based HVDC Light converter stations, one rated at 1200 MW at Blackhillock in Moray and another rated at 800 MW situated at Spittal in Caithness.

ABB’s scope of supply also includes submarine and underground cables covering a total transmission length of nearly 160 km. The link is scheduled to become operational in 2018.

“We are pleased to support this major transmission project that will enable integration of a significant amount of renewable energy into the grid and supply clean, emission-free electricity to millions of people,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO of ABB’s Power Systems division. ”

SHE Transmission is undertaking a major strengthening of its power network serving the north of Scotland to accommodate the rapid growth in generation of electricity from renewable sources, with around 1200 MW of wind, wave and tidal energy planned to be connected.

With the associated reinforcement of the existing onshore network, this project represents the largest investment in northern Scotland’s electricity network since the hydro development era of the 1950s.