Energy / Kergord to Gremista electricity link moves to next phase
Work on 12km section of overhead line to begin this week
SSEN Transmission and their principal contractors Norpower are gearing up to begin work on the new overhead line section of the Kergord-Gremista link project, with installation works set to begin this week in the area south of Sandwater.
The overhead line section of the Kergord-Gremista link project stretches across 12km and will link in to two sections of underground cable at each end which will complete the full connection.
Once complete, the Kergord-Gremista link will connect the islands to the Viking wind farm and the national grid.
The 22km link consists of 4km of underground cabling from Gremista GSP which connects to the south end of the overhead line, before undergrounding again near Sandwater House for around 5km towards its termination point at Kergord substation.
Logistical works for the overhead line – the second phase of the wider connection project – have recently started, with materials being delivered to site from local storage areas via helicopter in recent weeks.
Work on the first section of undergrounding by principal contractor Omexom-Morgan Sindall Infrastructure (OMSI) commenced in July.
Work on the remaining phase, the Gremista section of underground cable, is due to begin in September with enabling works and access tracks being created to support the underground cable installation.
Separately, OMSI is also preparing to mobilise for the construction of the Grid Supply Point at Gremista, where the new grid transformers and control buildings will be installed.
SSEN Transmission’s project manager Grant Smith said: “To help ensure our impact on the sensitive peatland habitats is kept to a minimum, we have been using helicopters to fly in materials to site locations which has significantly reduced the requirement for heavy machinery on the ground.
“We’ve been working closely with the local community to keep them informed of this project, and every effort to minimise any impact during construction will be made. As a stakeholder-led business we’ll continue to keep them informed as the project develops.”
More detail on the connection project can be found here.
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