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The Orkney Link Transmission Project, aimed at transmitting renewable energy from the Scottish mainland to Orkney, faces concerns about disturbing radioactive waste from the decommissioned Dounreay nuclear power plant. The project, overseen by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, was approved in 2019 and has faced criticism for its visual impact.

The potential for releasing irradiated particles, including cobalt, americium, and niobium, from the seabed raises fears of contamination on Orkney's beaches, which could harm local wildlife. Although official documents indicate the risk is 'extremely small,' a £20 million taxpayer-backed insurance policy has been approved for potential cleanup.

The cable's route, while avoiding the most sensitive habitats, runs near protected areas where seabirds nest. Dounreay's radioactive waste has been detected on the Caithness coast as recently as last year, prompting ongoing cleanup efforts since the 1980s.