Collaboration Strengthens the UK’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure
NKT confirmed its partnership with SSEN Transmission to deliver two major high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power cable projects in Scotland. These projects will play a vital role in connecting renewable energy from the Western Isles and Northern Scotland to the country’s main electricity network.
According to NKT’s announcement, the company will provide production and offshore installation capacity for the venture. The planned HVDC transmission links will connect the Western Isles to the Scottish mainland and Spittal in Caithness to Peterhead, enabling large-scale power transmission from remote renewable sources to major demand centers.
NKT and SSEN Transmission Sign Framework Agreement
NKT recently signed a framework agreement with SSEN Transmission to begin initial work on the two interconnector projects. This agreement follows earlier collaborations between the companies, including the successful Caithness-Moray HVDC Link and the ongoing Shetland HVDC Link.
“NKT is proud to continue supporting SSEN Transmission as it expands the UK’s transmission capacity,” said Darren Fennell, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions Karlskrona at NKT. “Our strong partnership has helped accelerate multiple interconnector projects that promote a more sustainable and resilient power network.”
This new collaboration builds further on their shared goal of supporting decarbonization and energy security across Great Britain.
Supporting the UK’s Pathway to 2030 Energy Goals
The Western Isles and Spittal–Peterhead projects are key components of the UK’s Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design (HND) — a national framework to modernize the country’s transmission grid. Together, these projects will help achieve the UK and Scottish Governments’ 2030 clean energy and climate goals.
- The Western Isles cable route will feature 160 km of 525 kV HVDC cable with a 1.8 GW transmission capacity.
- The Spittal–Peterhead cable will span 220 km of 525 kV HVDC cable and deliver 2.0 GW of capacity.
Both projects include onshore and offshore cable routes and are scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026. Once operational, they will significantly increase renewable energy integration and stability across the national grid.
Powering a More Sustainable Future
Through this partnership, NKT and SSEN Transmission continue to advance innovative power transmission systems that enable a cleaner, more connected energy landscape. Their efforts contribute directly to the UK’s transition toward net-zero emissions while improving grid resilience and expanding renewable integration capacity.
Learn more about NKT’s global power cable solutions at NKT.com and SSEN Transmission’s ongoing infrastructure projects at ssen-transmission.co.uk.