Construction begins on Lewis Hub electricity project

Construction has started on the Lewis Hub, the first direct electricity connection between the Western Isles and the Scottish mainland. The facility near Stornoway will include a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) switching station as part of a subsea cable, with the capacity to export up to 1.8GW of renewable electricity to the UK grid. SSEN Transmission says the project will strengthen energy security for the Western Isles. RJ McLeod, a contractor based in the Highlands, will lead the first construction phase. The hub site will feature an HVDC converter station and an alternating current (AC) substation. SSEN will also launch a £1.06m local fund.