Nexans wins contract for first transmission interconnection from Scottish Orkney Islands

Nexans, a world leader in the design and manufacture of cable systems, has been awarded a major contract for the Orkney electricity interconnector. The €170 million project will transport up to 220 MW of renewable energy between the Scottish archipelago and the UK mainland.

The high-voltage AC cable will run for 69 km, including 53 km undersea and 16 km on land, connecting Finstown, Orkney, to Dounreay, Scotland. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027. The land and submarine sections will be manufactured in Norway and Belgium respectively, while the accessories will be produced in Switzerland.

This project will make a significant contribution to Britain's carbon neutrality target by facilitating the transfer of renewable energy from the Orkney Islands, a region rich in wind and sea resources.