Offshore works progressing in Scotland for the UK’s biggest ever electricity transmission project, EGL2
Important marine construction works for the Eastern Green Link 2 project have started at Sandford Bay, near Peterhead.
Running from July to October, the works will see the installation of two new ducts, installed through the use of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), a specialist engineering technique used to create underground routes for subsea cables.
The works are being supported by the Diving Support Vessel ‘C Horizon’, which is operating within Sandford Bay to assist with the offshore section of the installation. A key milestone of the work will be the HDD "punch-out", when the ducts emerge through the seabed offshore after being drilled from land.
In support of all of this activity, diving teams are carrying out subsea inspections and installations, ensuring that ducts are appropriately positioned and ready for cable installation at a later date.
Several other vessels are also involved in supporting the delivery of the crucial offshore works, including the survey vessel, Northerly Explorer, and crew transfer assets operating in the area. Temporary marker buoys will identify key locations including duct positions and moorings, with a wave rider buoy also being deployed within the bay.
In support of the values of the EGL2 project, activities taking place are being carried out under strict environmental controls, with specialist surveyors, marine crews and environmental teams working together to minimise seabed disturbance, protect local marine habitats and ensure safe operations.
While converter station construction and onshore works are naturally the more visible elements of subsea cable installation projects, the work taking place offshore at Sandford Bay showcases the specialist marine expertise required to deliver projects like EGL2. From HDD engineers and surveyors to divers, vessel crews and marine contractors, a wide range of skills are being brought together to complete a crucial piece of infrastructure on Scotland's northeast coast.
As EGL2 progresses towards its planned energisation in 2029, the work currently being undertaken off the coast of Peterhead represents another important step in connecting Scotland's renewable energy resources to homes and businesses right across Britain.
Lorraine Wallington, Lead Project Manager for EGL2, said:
"What people see onshore is only part of the story. The work now taking place at Sandford Bay showcases some of the specialist marine engineering, diving and surveying expertise needed to deliver a project of EGL2's scale and connect more renewable electricity to homes and businesses across Britain."
John Woodfine, Senior Site Manager at Prysmian, said:
"Delivering offshore construction responsibly means considering both the marine environment and the people who use it every day. Using Notices to Mariners, buoyed exclusion areas and open and ongoing communication we are helping to ensure safe navigation around the works while minimising impacts on marine activities. This collaborative approach is an important part of our commitment to delivering EGL2 safely, responsibly and with respect for the local marine community."
