SSEN completes subsea electricity link to Jura, Islay and Colonsay
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The islands of Jura, Islay and Colonsay are back online after a new subsea cable was installed to restore a connection to the wider electricity grid.
A project to replace the submarine electricity cable between Jura and Tayvallich in Argyll was completed on Tuesday, March 31.
Since November, the islands have been powered by a combination of Bowmore Power Station and local renewable generation.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said the installation of the new cable was delayed by the weather after it received a marine licence to carry out the work on January 24 and it organised a specialist marine vessel to undertake the job.
Mark Rough, SSEN’s director of customer operations, said: “Keeping the power flowing to the communities we serve is our key priority at SSEN and we’d like to take this opportunity to thank the community and local businesses for their patience and support as our teams worked on this essential cable replacement project.
“Adverse weather conditions, including Storms Brendan, Ciara and Dennis, presented our teams with various challenges along the way, but I’d like to thank everyone involved, from our subsea teams, contract partners and renewable generators to our colleagues working on the islands, Bowmore Power Station, and our control room for their continued efforts to help return the network to normal operation as soon as possible.”
SSEN said the completion of the three-day operation meant customers on the islands would have access to a safe and reliable supply of electricity.
Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: “SSEN and their partners have done a tremendous job in restoring the link despite appalling weather delaying the operation for a considerable period of time. Their commitment to ensuring that the islands are connected has been total even though it has involved laying a completely new cable at very considerable cost.
"They have also been very good at keeping the communities – and elected representatives – informed. I am sure everyone is grateful to them – and everyone hopes it will never happen again.”
