SSE: Caithness-Moray Project a Boon to UK Economy

A study of the economic contribution made by the GBP 1.1 billion Caithness-Moray transmission project has found that the project is supporting the equivalent of over 10,000 years of employment in the UK, around half of which are in Scotland, SSE plc reports.

Economic modelling included within a report found that of the GBP 1.1 billion total investment, almost two thirds, or GBP 643.5m, will be spent with UK-based suppliers and contractors.

The report also determined that the project will bring around GBP 265.5m in Gross Value Added to the Scottish economy.

The Caithness-Moray project, led by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSE, is centred on a 100 mile underground and subsea cable running beneath the Moray Firth, using High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology.

It enables around 1,200 megawatts of additional renewable generation capacity to connect to the national grid.

Work on the project is progressing, with onshore installation of the HVDC cable in Caithness now largely complete.

Work to install the subsea cable is due to get under way next year, with the whole project on schedule for completion by the end of 2018.