UK’s ‘biggest ever’ electricity transmission project enters construction

Construction has officially started on what is said to be the UK’s largest-ever electricity transmission project and the longest high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable in the country, named Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2).

The £4.3 billion, 525kV, 2 GW HVDC subsea transmission cable will link Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in Yorkshire and is being delivered as a joint venture (JV) by SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET)

Representatives from the company took the first ceremonial spadefuls of earth yesterday, September 26, marking the start of main construction at events held in Peterhead and Drax.

“EGL2 will play a major role in bolstering energy security and contributing to net zero targets, but it will also generate jobs and provide a legacy to local communities here in the north-east of Scotland, where our teams are already supporting local environmental initiatives,” said Gregor Alexander, Chair of SSEN Transmission’s Board.

“We are committed to working alongside the local community throughout the lifetime of the project and beyond, as we aim to be a positive force in the communities we operate.”

According to SSEN Transmission, at over 500 kilometers in length, the project includes what will be the longest HVDC subsea cable in the UK (436 kilometers) and is the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, providing enough green electricity to power around two million homes.

EGL2 is expected to support hundreds of skilled jobs during the construction phase and thousands more across the wider economy, including through supply chain activity. Prysmian is manufacturing and installing the cable, with Hitachi Energy and BAM supplying converter stations at either end of the link.

The project milestone follows on from Ofgem confirming its final approval on the costs associated with the delivery of project, allowing construction on the subsea connection to get started. Ofgem also fast-tracked the 2 GW Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) earlier this year, revealing a provisional £2 billion funding package.

EGL2 is expected to be fully energized and operational in 2029. 

“Today is a historic occasion. Not only is construction starting on EGL2, Britain’s biggest ever electricity transmission project, but we’re also standing here two years earlier than we might have been thanks to Ofgem’s fast track new process which cuts red tape to get consumers across the country connected to renewable energy more quickly,” said Akshay Kaul, Ofgem Director General for Infrastructure Group.

“Harnessing homegrown clean energy will help build a secure energy future for Britain, and projects like EGL2 are pivotal in our move towards that.”