Cable Route Engineering

SSEN Transmission added Braewick, in Northmavine on the north-west coast of Shetland, as an additional potential landfall location for the Shetland 2 HVDC subsea cable. Braewick was not included in the original four-site shortlist (Grunnavoe, Toft Ness, Wethersta, Toft Camp) presented at 2025 public engagement events; SSEN said the site was only identified recently and that nearshore marine surveys would be conducted in the coming weeks to assess viability. As of 5 May 2026, the active landfall consideration set on the Shetland side comprises Braewick, Wethersta and Toft Ness (with Grunnavoe and Toft Camp apparently dropped from active consideration since 2025). All appropriate permissions for the Braewick exploratory marine surveys are in place; a notice to mariners will be issued to detail vessel activity timings. SSEN has committed to a further round of public consultation on the HVDC link once Braewick survey work has concluded. Development portfolio manager David Inge stated the surveys are "an important early step in assessing potential landfall locations for the subsea cable".