Key benefits of our proposal to Westray • Secures power supplies to the Submarine Electricity Cable island of Westray

Lying on the seabed • Improves security of supply to Rousay, , Sanday, and Overhead power line Electrical substation • Route design has been optimised Landfall Landfall to increase life expectancy of cable

Road • Enhances safety around shore ends Mean high water springs

Mean low water springs Ducted road • Protects the environment, birds crossing Underground and mammals Sediment power cable Sediment • Minimises our impact on islanders, business and visitors Rock 33kV submarine electricity cable Cable is laid Duct • Reduces our impact on nature on the seabed

Rousay shore Westray shore • Undergrounding improves visual amenity on Rousay

We propose to lay the cable along the surface of the How will your plans aect islanders, business Nature seabed between the Rousay and Westray shores following and visitors? the same route as our existing cable (which has been in By undergrounding some existing overhead power place for over 30 years). At the Rousay shore the cable will Studies show that there is marine tra c in the area lines on Rousay, this will reduce future impacts on the travel underground and connect into the overhead power (including recreational boats, motor cruising, canoeing protected bird species in the area. We will also undertake Artic Tern line. On the Westray shore it will also travel underground and kayaking). However there are no shipping transits or additional surveys on the shores to identify any protected but connect into the electrical substation. ferry routes across our cable. species or habitats that we need to avoid or manage during our works. Rousay falls under numerous environmental designations There is a tidal lease agreement in the water around our including Wyre and Rousay Sound Marine Protection Area, cable; but no aquaculture sites. We will check for visual evidence of sensitive habits in Rousay Special Protection Area and North the marine environment and re-route the cable where proposed Special Protection Area. We understand that scalloping, creeling and whelking possible to minimise impacts on these. By proposing to and other fishing activities may take place in the inshore lay the cable on the seabed we will minimise disturbance Why are you replacing the cable? waters but these communities have not indicated that they to protected bird species and reduce the duration of would like us to consider a new route or for the cable to our works. We know that the cable is nearing the end of its be protected. operational life. This is demonstrated through video footage (captured by cameras strapped to small We will also identify and minimise our impact on local submarines) and from our engineering assessments heritage or archaeology. which help us assess how healthy the cable is. There are no formal footpaths where our cable comes We are now preparing a marine application to replace it, ashore but access will be restricted whilst we work, so we so that homes, businesses and schools continue to have will work with aected parties to put acceptable diversions a reliable supply of electricity. in place. Rousay to Westray Submarine Electricity Cable

The Rousay to Westray submarine electricity cable powers the communities of Westray and provides support during power cuts to the islands of Rousay, Eday, Sanday, Shapinsay and Stronsay. This cable provides a safe and reliable supply of electricity to the island residents and businesses. Map showing the existing cable route between Rousay to Westray

Proposed submarine electricity cable route Rousay to Westray Proposed cable route Existing cable route