Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), a subsea link said to be the UK’s largest-ever electricity transmission project and the longest high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable in the country, has entered the major construction phase, with detailed marine engineering surveys progressing along the offshore cable lay route and the geotechnical survey completed.
Developed by a joint venture of SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, EGL2 involves the installation of a 2 GW HVDC subsea cable connecting Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in Yorkshire. Project construction started in September 2024 , with the link expected to be completed in 2029.
The project has reached several major milestones across the onshore cable route in recent months as Italy’s Prysmian completed construction of the landfall horizontal directional drilling (HDD) site in Scotland. Drilling operations began in May on both HDD crossings, with pilot holes now completed. The project is progressing into the reaming phase, which will see the preparation of boreholes for cable installation.
Marine construction works are mobilized from Peterhead Port, with operations at Sandford Bay having started at the end of June. The works will prepare the seabed to facilitate the breakthrough of the HDD boreholes into pre-excavated trenches, enabling the subsequent installation of steel ducts that will connect the onshore and offshore cable systems.
In North and East Yorkshire, the preparation of the route for major infrastructure installation is progressing. Ahead of cable installation works, engineers have completed detailed ground investigation to ensure the long-term stability, performance and sustainability of the cable system, Prysmian reported.
To date, Prysmian and its contractors have completed over 16 kilometers of haul roads installed alongside bell-mouth access points, 12 kilometers of drainage, 1.5 kilometers of trenching, four horizontal directional drills and archaeological trial trenching.
As for offshore activity, detailed marine engineering surveys are progressing along the offshore cable lay route, with the geotechnical survey completed and the geophysical survey ongoing. Survey of the offshore crossing is planned to be completed by the end of July.
The next major milestone will be the preparation of the England landfall site ahead of HDD works that will connect the onshore and offshore sections of the project.
“Eastern Green Link 2 is a powerful example of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision. The scale and complexity of this project demands close collaboration across our teams, delivery partners, supply chain and stakeholders,” said Giuseppe Cardamone , Project Director for EGL2 at Prysmian.
“Every milestone reached is the result of that collective effort, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to safety, engineering excellence and responsible delivery. Together, we are building infrastructure that will support the UK’s transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system and deliver lasting benefits for generations to come.”