Ofgem is ‘minded to’ give the go-ahead to plans for a 600MW subsea electricity transmission link from Shetland to mainland Scotland to export power from wind farms. But the regulator is consulting on making approval conditional on a Contract for Difference (CfD) being awarded to the Viking Energy wind farm planned for Shetland.

The regulator said this would protect consumers from the risk of paying for a link that it is bigger than needed.

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) expects the link to cost around £709 million and be completed in 2024.