Minch subsea cable link approved

Approval has been granted from energy regulator Ofgem for the need to build a 1.8GW interconnector to export renewable energy from Lewis and Harris to the mainland grid.

The decision follows 20 years of knock-backs and false starts and marks a major step forward in unlocking the renewable energy potential of the Western Isles.

However, it is set to delay switching on new local turbines until the end of the decade.

The link would run from Arnish to the mainland and onwards to the Beauly area near Inverness.

Under the proposal, a new larger link would have three times the capacity of the 600MW link SSEN sought to run from Stornoway to Dundonnell.

Ofgem gave proposals for the scaled-up cable permission to be taken forward amid a raft of other strategic electricity projects required to deliver the UK Government’s 50GW offshore wind targets by 2030.

The size of the cable should provide room to accommodate community generators plus future renewables projects.

SSEN Transmission welcomes the decision and plans to upgrade previous proposals for a smaller link to accommodate the new larger cable.

Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said: “We are delighted Ofgem has approved the need for a 1.8GW link to the Western Isles as part of its decision on the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework to deliver Government’s 2030 targets.

“After many false dawns spanning decades, today’s decision is a hugely significant milestone in finally unlocking the Western Isles vast renewable potential and importantly, provides the certainty we, our supply chain and Western Isles renewable developers need to take forward our investments.

“We would like to thank all those who have supported the need to provide a transmission connection to the Western Isles and we now look forward to working constructively with all stakeholders to deliver this long awaited and much needed investment, which will deliver significant local and national socio-economic benefits, as well as supporting 2030 Government targets, our future energy security and a pathway to net zero emissions.”

The beefed-up Minch cable will carry electricity generated from key windfarms on the Lewis moorland in addition to offshore turbines off the island’s west coast.

In the summer progress for a smaller Minch cable was effectively cancelled after being overtaken by events in changing UK Government policy.

Just hours after a significant hurdle stalling cable plans was overcome when Lewis Windfarm joined two other key wind schemes in securing a subsidy for their turbine development outside Stornoway to proceed, the National Grid, the UK’s electricity system operator, suddenly changed the game with a blueprint to ramp up energy production.

A larger capacity cable was assessed as “required” said the body but the island infrastructure was excluded in the Ofgem consultation to accelerate investment in the UK electricity transmission network.

The regulator later conceded the omission and agreed to evaluate the Minch connection as a critical project under the new drive to become more self-sufficient in renewables.

Major milestone for Western Isles renewable energy ambitions as Minch subsea cable finally gets go-ahead

15 December 2022