Project facts
| Status | Under construction |
|---|---|
| Developer / operator | SSEN Transmission; cable contractor NKT |
| Region | Caithness / Rattray Head / Crimond / Longside / Peterhead |
| Country | Scotland |
| Published rating | 2,000 MW |
| Rating definition | Transfer capacity |
| Connection / route | Banniskirk Hub ↔ Sinclair’s Bay ↔ Rattray Head near Crimond ↔ Netherton Hub near Longside |
| Delivery target | 2030 (developer target; subject to change) |
| Total route length | 203 km |
| Subsea section | 166 km |
What this link contributes
This asset provides a route for electricity to move between networks or strengthens the network carrying that electricity. Its capacity cannot be added to wind, solar or power-station capacity as though it were another generator.
Banniskirk Hub ↔ Sinclair’s Bay ↔ Rattray Head near Crimond ↔ Netherton Hub near Longside
Converter stations, cable manufacture, offshore installation, landfall works and grid energisation can progress at different times. The status above describes the documented project stage rather than assuming all work packages are complete.
Milestones
- January 2026 · Final NKT cable contracts announced
- July 2026 · Landfall HDD works underway at Rattray Head
- 2 October 2026 · SSEN reports Blackhills and Bower Quarry construction compounds operational
- 2030 · Published target for link commissioning
Project location
Banniskirk, Netherton near Longside and the Rattray Head landfall area are shown separately. The Rattray circle uses the nearby lighthouse only as a geographic reference, not as the construction compound. No invented cable alignment is drawn.
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- Spittal / Banniskirk connection area Approximate area; exact site not confirmed Open larger map Location source Coordinate source 58.466, -3.427 · WGS84
- Netherton Hub near Longside — published grid reference NK052460 (100 m grid square) Developer-published location Open larger map Location source Coordinate source 57.50462, -1.91404 · WGS84
- Rattray Head / Crimond landfall area — lighthouse used only as a geographic reference Approximate area; exact site not confirmed Open larger map Location source Coordinate source 57.610, -1.817 · WGS84
Markers identify sites, published points or labelled connection areas. Markers are not site boundaries or entrances. EGL2’s additional outlines and route layers are explicitly identified in the developer’s map data.
Sources and review date
- April 2026 construction announcement
Reviewed 2026-10-08 - Route and endpoints
Reviewed 2026-10-08 - NKT final 525 kV cable contracts (19 January 2026)
Reviewed 2026-10-08 - October 2026 construction compounds and landfall progress
Reviewed 2026-10-08
How Octary distinguishes proposals, published ratings and live measurements