A major milestone has been reached on Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission's £1.1 billion Caithness-Moray project.

Four cable ducts have been developed through the rock beneath Noss Head, north of Wick, almost 500 metres out to sea.

The ducts were drilled as part of the installation of the 100-mile High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link between Spittal in central Caithness and Blackhillock in Moray. Cables will be pulled through the ducts on to land next year once drilling work has been completed and when marine installation work is to take place.


Main electricity cables will be installed in two of the four ducts, while a third duct will contain fibre optic cable used in the operation of the system.

Once completed, the HVDC will enable up to 1,200MW of renewable power to be transferred beneath the Moray Firth.

SHE Transmission's Lead Project Manager for onshore cable works Michael Blake said: "The successful completion of the drill at Noss Head is a major achievement for our project – and particularly for the team that has been working hard on site over the past few months.

"The main onshore cable works are now nearing completion in Caithness and the ducts at Noss Head will enable the first stage of the cable’s journey beneath the Moray Firth."

(LM/CD)