Xodus Group has been awarded a framework agreement with energy company SSE to provide employers representative services for the development and ongoing improvements of its electrical networks.
The contract is for three years with potential extension for a further two years and is estimated to be worth in excess of GBP 1 million.
It will involve various development and construction activities across SSE’s portfolio, which includes: to provide the employers representative services in connection with marine survey of proposed subsea cable routes and landfalls; route development of proposed subsea cable routes; cable installation, cable burial and cable protection operations also during defect correction; and adherence to associated consent processes and environmental requirements.
The first call-off project under the framework is to support SSE’s electricity transmission business, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc and its Caithness – Moray HVDC Reinforcement project. Currently under construction, the interconnector cable is approximately 160 kilometres long with the 113-kilometre submarine section located between Wick and Buckie. It will be capable of transporting up to 1,200MW of electricity beneath the Moray Firth. It is expected to be completed in 2018.
“This agreement recognises our excellent offshore track record, our flexible and proactive approach, and highly knowledgeable team. Work is already underway and going well on the strategically important Caithness – Moray project that will provide secure electrical energy to a large population,” James Hunt, Global Low Carbon Lead with Xodus said.
Xodus previously supported SSE with an environmental permit and licensing stakeholder consultation and route engineering for the proposed Western Isles HVDC project. The potential 600MW HVDC link involves connecting mainland Scotland to the Isle of Lewis with a 156-kilometre cable, 80 kilometres of which would be subsea.