SSEN Distribution’s subsea cable team, based in Perth, is a key part of its operations in the north of Scotland – responsible for monitoring the submarine cable network that provides power supplies from the mainland to 60 Scottish Islands, including the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Arran and the Orkney Islands.

A great example of the subsea team’s work is their role in the £14.2m upgrade to the wider distribution network around Aultbea and Ullapool – a project which also sees teams on the ground upgrading overhead lines and substation equipment, making the local network stronger and helping facilitate the uptake in domestic heat pumps and EV chargers.

In December the subsea team installed a new cable across Loch Broom, linking Altnaharrie and Ullapool – the work had been years in the planning and, come the big day, the crisp, clear and calm conditions were ideal for carrying out the installation.

Behind the scenes …beneath the waves

We caught up with Lead Project Manager Ally Crawford during the installation works, to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes as the team plans a major installation:

 

Peter McGrath, one of the team’s design engineers, explains more about the cable itself:


 

Delivering value for consumers

Kevin Galbraith, Project Director in SSEN Distribution’s Large Capital Projects team, explains how this new cable across Loch Broom is helping the company deliver value for customers:

“As all of our investments are funded through consumers’ bills, ensuring value for money is a key driver in everything we do.On this particular project we’ve chosen the subsea route across Loch Broom for two key reasons - the length of cable required is shorter, and so it is more cost-effective when viewed alongside the alternative option of a new land-based line; being shorter also means that it can also be completed in a shorter timescale and with less potential impact on the local community.”

It’s good to talk…and listen

Our colleagues in SSEN Distribution strive to be good neighbours in the communities where they’re working, and a key element of this commitment is communication - especially ahead of any major projects.

Working with wider colleagues on the Aultbea-Ullapool project, the team has carried out an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement, meeting with a wide range of local community groups – such as the Loch Broom Sailing Club – and key local institutions, including Ullapool Primary School.

We caught up with some of these groups when they came to see the installation works for themselves, and it soon became clear just how important the engagement programme has been – click on the images below to hear for yourself:

Mark Squires, Ullapool Primary School 

https://vimeo.com/792944380/1c14677502

Topher Dawson, Loch Broom Community Council

https://vimeo.com/792996372/a54a32445e

 Paul Copestake, Loch Broom Sailing Club

https://vimeo.com/795546728/a5f7db5003

 

To learn more about the subsea team, click here.

 

 

 

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