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Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has completed the replacement of a subsea power line to the Scottish islands of Jura, Islay and Colonsay, reconnecting them to the mainland power grid following a cable fault in November.
In the meantime, power supplies on the islands, which are part of the Western Isles archipelago, have been maintained using local renewable generation and the Bowmore diesel power station on Islay.
SSEN received a marine license to carry out the replacement towards the end of January and sent an installation vessel to the area shortly afterwards. However, the firm said it was unable to start work for almost two months due to unfavourable weather conditions at sea.
The necessary three-day window did not open up until late last month. Engineers finally energised the cable yesterday (31 March).
SSEN director of customer operations Mark Rough said: “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.”
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