SSEN Transmission has selected NKT for major contracts to deliver 525kV high‑voltage direct current (HVDC) cables on two subsea power links: one between Spittal in Caithness and Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, and a proposed connection from the Western Isles to the Scottish mainland.

Valued at €2bn in total, the package is the largest contract award in SSEN Transmission’s history and spans the design, manufacture and installation of both onshore and subsea cable systems.

The appointment builds on previous collaborations between the companies on the Caithness to Moray and Shetland links. The Western Isles project would enable renewable power to flow from island generators to the mainland grid and vice versa, while the Spittal to Peterhead route will create a strategic transmission corridor across the north of Scotland. Both schemes form part of SSEN Transmission’s wider £22bn+ investment programme to upgrade the network in the north of Scotland, supporting energy security and clean power targets.

SSEN Transmission has also emphasised the social value tied to these projects, following its decision at the end of 2025 to become the first signatory of the Highland Social Value Charter. Through the Charter, the business has committed to local contract opportunities, investment in roads and bridges, support for housing development, community benefit funding and achieving a net gain in biodiversity.

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NKT have an extensive track record in delivering HVDC cable systems worldwide and in the UK, and the partners said the awards reaffirm their joint commitment to enabling reliable, large‑scale transmission of renewable electricity across Great Britain.

Claes Westerlind, President and CEO of NKT, said: "We are pleased to have signed the final contracts for these two Scottish transmission links with SSEN Transmission. This milestone reinforces our strong position in the UK market and reflects our commitment to strengthening the cable infrastructure supporting the region's transition to renewable energy. We will continue our excellent collaboration with SSEN Transmission, while also strengthening our corporate footprint by creating local jobs and building partnerships with UK suppliers."

Sandy Mactaggart, SSEN Transmission's Director of Offshore Delivery, said: "Awarding these contracts marks another major step forward in delivering the critical subsea links needed to unlock Scotland’s clean energy potential. This is the largest contract award in SSEN Transmission’s history, underlining both the scale of the challenge ahead and the scale of our commitment to delivering the infrastructure our energy system needs.

"Our long‑standing partnership with NKT gives us confidence in delivering these complex projects to the highest standards, while ensuring that the benefits are felt locally through jobs, investment and opportunities for communities across the north of Scotland. As we move into the construction phase, we remain firmly focused on delivering the infrastructure that will help secure a cleaner, more resilient energy future for homes and businesses across Great Britain."