Ofgem has confirmed its final approval on the costs associated with delivery of Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), enabling construction to start on the 525kV, 2GW subsea connection between Peterhead in the north-east of Scotland and Drax on the east coast of England.
The energy regulator’s final decision on the project assessment for the 500km+ high voltage direct current (HVDC) connection is the key final approval in the regulatory process and allows construction to get underway later this year, with the connection due to be operational in 2029.
And in a separate development that underlines the progress being made on the project, Aberdeenshire Council has 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 and is the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, providing enough electricity to power two million homes.
At a total expected nominal investment of around £4.3 billion, it’s 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.
Contracts have now been awarded to deliver the project, including with Prysmian Group to supply around 1,000km of cable and with Hitachi Energy and BAM for the supply of converter stations at either end of the subsea cable.
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