Construction begins on UK’s $3 billion subsea electricity superhighway

Construction has commenced on the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) subsea electricity superhighway in the UK, which will transport green electricity for two million homes along over 190 kilometers of predominantly undersea cable linking the south-east of Scotland with the north-east of England.

The 2 GW EGL1 HVDC multi-directional cable is being developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and SP Transmission, part of SP Energy Networks, between the Torness area in East Lothian, Scotland, and Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, England.

The £2.5 billion (over $3.1 billion) project was given the green light by Ofgem last year and onshore works are now underway with offshore construction due to start in the summer. 

“Eastern Green Link 1 will play a transformative role in delivering the modern electricity network needed for the future. At the same time, it will deliver economic growth, jobs and a supply chain boost right across the UK but importantly also for the communities hosting this vital infrastructure,” said Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks,

“Together with our partners at National Grid Electricity Transmission we will support our local communities with projects that matter to them and deliver long term social value and direct benefits for years to come.”

Prysmian will deliver the first 525 kV HVDC XLPE submarine cable system in the UK, for the 190-kilometer route between England and Scotland.

The Italian company won a €850 million contract for EGL1 at the end of 2023, while the consortium of GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business and METLEN Energy and Metals secured a contract worth around €1.2 billion to deliver the HVDC converter stations for the project.

Four EGL links form part of planned electricity grid reinforcements to boost the capability of the existing UK transmission network and facilitate increased flows of planned renewable generation in the North to demand centers to the South, supporting the ambition of enabling 50 GW of offshore wind generation by 2030 and achieving a net-zero economy by 2050.

Construction started on Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) in September 2024.