Progress of major 500km subsea connection outlined in first newsletter
Progress on the Eastern Green Link 2 project, which will transport renewable energy from Scotland to England via the North Sea, has been outlined in the first in a series of newsletters that will keep stakeholders informed of its ongoing development.
Known as EGL2, the joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid is an over-500km subsea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) superhighway, which will be the longest ever built in Great Britain, bolstering energy security and contributing to net zero targets. Ofgem recently given provisional approval of the expenditure required for the 525kV 2GW link, which is capable of carrying enough electricity to power nearly two million homes and will run from Peterhead in north east Scotland to Drax on the east coast of England.
At a total expected nominal investment of around £4.3bn, EGL2 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.
It will support hundreds of skilled jobs during the construction phase and thousands more across the wider economy.
The newsletter produced by the project team demonstrates the progress made on the development so far, as teams prepare to begin construction work this year with the new connection due to be operational in 2029. It includes an introductory overview from Project Directors Ricky Saez (SSEN Transmission) and Neil Lyons (National Grid Electricity Transmission), highlighting the award of supply chain contracts to Hitachi Energy and BAM to construct convertor stations at both Peterhead and Drax. A separate cable manufacturing and installation contract has been awarded to Prysmian.
It also reports on a tree planting that took place recently at Peterhead converter station, where over 150 hardy saplings were planted in a first step towards creating EGL2’s environmental legacy.
The project team on site oversaw the planting of native alder, willow, hawthorn and birch, which over time will create habitat for local species and help to screen the site.
Ricky Saez, SSEN Transmission Project Director, commented: “As we prepare to begin construction on EGL2 later this year, it’s important that we keep people up to date on our progress which is why we are producing a newsletter that will provide regular project updates and key information for our stakeholders.
“EGL2 will play a critical role in unlocking Scotland’s renewable potential and supporting the UK’s future security of supply, while supporting thousands of jobs and delivering a lasting sustainability legacy. We are committed to keeping the public and our stakeholders informed of progress on this vital development as we work towards energisation towards the end of the decade.”