The 500-km-long 525kV 2GW Eastern Green Link 2 is the largest subsea project of Great Britain, which will connect Peterhead in the north-east of Scotland to Drax on the east coast of England, providing electricity to two million homes.

Sep 4, 2024

Following a green signal from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the United Kingdom is set to begin construction on 525kV 2GW Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), the largest subsea project of Great Britain, which will connect Peterhead in the north-east of Scotland to Drax on the east coast of England.

The energy regulator’s nod to the costs associated with delivery of EGL2 is the key final approval in the regulatory process, which allows construction to get underway later this year. The 500-km-long high voltage direct current (HVDC) connection project is expected to become operational in 2029.

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=13]

Watch: RR Kabel | Solar Cables | Solar Plant | Renewable Energy

In a separate development, Aberdeenshire Council recently granted final planning approval for a new HVDC converter station to be built near Peterhead, with construction to begin at the site near Boddam later this year.

Delivered as a joint venture by National Grid and SSEN Transmission, EGL2 will include the longest HVDC subsea cable in the UK. It is the country’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, providing enough electricity to power two million homes.

At a total expected nominal investment of around USD 5.64 billion, it is the single largest-ever investment in electricity transmission infrastructure in Great Britain and one of the most significant, strategic investments in energy infrastructure the country has seen in recent years.

Also Read: Lesjӧfors Group Expands Operations in Europe & India

Contracts have now been awarded to deliver the project, including with Prysmian Group to supply around 1,000 km of cable and with Hitachi Energy and BAM for the supply of converter stations at either end of the subsea cable.

EGL2 is part of SSEN Transmission’s Pathway to 2030 programme, entailing an investment worth around USD 26.22 billion, to upgrade the electricity network in the north of Scotland. It will also unlock the country’s renewable energy resources in support of national net zero and energy security targets. Further, EGL2 is part of National Grid’s The Great Grid Upgrade, in which 17 major infrastructure projects will update the grid network, boosting energy security, affordability and helping England & Wales become more self-sufficient.