We think
around corners.
Background
Background
The Viking Link project involves the construction of a converter station in each country and the installation of submarine and underground cables between each converter station and underground cables between the converter station and substation in each country.
Viking Link will be approximately 760km long and will allow electricity to be exchanged between GB and Denmark. The subsea cable crosses through the territorial waters of GB, The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
Key project information
Interconnectors create a vital link between the energy networks of different countries. Interconnectors are transmission wires which allow electricity to flow between countries, enabling them to import power at times of shortage and export when in surplus. Great Britain already has five of them, linking us to Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland, totalling 5 Gigawatts (GW) of capacity. More are in the pipeline at various stages.
The onshore cable link is over 65 KM long and crosses over four local planning authority (LPAs) boundaries. A small section also crosses into the Lincolnshire Wolds. Three of the four LPAs approved the application, but a fourth rejected it siting impact on the Lincolnshire Wolds. This decision was overturned at appeal.
Cavendish was appointed to the project in April 2018, to provide communications support during the construction of the onshore cable route and the converter station. Delays to the project have meant that construction is now due to commence in Summer 2020.
Strategy
Strategy
The vast majority of the work undertaken by Cavendish has focused on preparing the communications strategy and protocols ready for the start of construction. A detailed stakeholder audit was undertaken to identify all the key stakeholders that could be impacted by the project. This identified:
- Proximity to the route/converter station/landfall sites
- Their historical reaction to the project
- Reactions to other major projects in their area
In the meantime, Cavendish has operated the freephone, freepost and email enquiries for local residents, stakeholders and companies expressing interest in contract opportunities.
Cavendish will provide support in the following areas, once the project construction starts:
- Recruitment of members for the four community liaison groups (CLGs)
- Providing administrative support for the CLGs
- Setting up communications protocols with the main contractors
- Identifying key milestones for media opportunities
- Setting up and monitoring complaints procedure and responding to enquiries (via Freephone, Freepost and email)
- Assisting with crisis communications procedure
- Setting up and attending community drop-in events
- Organising and attending county/local shows of relevance to the client
- Meet the buyer event
NGVL was keen to promote the benefits of the scheme to the wider community. As part of their investment in the area, NGVL has established education booklets for Key Stage 2 children currently at local schools along the cable route and close to the converter station and landfall sites.
At this stage of the project, Cavendish is providing support to the communications team, preparing the procedures and protocols that will need to be in place once construction commences.
