Eastern Green Link 2, or EGL2, is the UK’s biggest electricity transmission project, with the superhighway link stretching 506km (or 348 miles)
Twin groundbreaking ceremonies on either side of the project marked the beginning of works on EGL2, subsea transmission cable connecting Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England.
Delivered by National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission and benefitting from £3.4m of public funding as approved by Ofgem, when complete EGL2 will have the longest HVDC cable in the UK with 25kV, 2GW high voltage.
BAM and Hitachi Energy will deliver the converter stations at either end of EGL2.
EGL2 is the first of 4 proposed 2GW projects between Scotland and England
The subsea cable will travel 436km under the sea from Peterhead, coming ashore at Fraisthorpe Sands in East Yorkshire before running underground for 68km to the converter station at Drax.
When complete, the four 2GW projects between Scotland and England will provide enough renewable electricity to power eight million homes.
EGL2, which will power two million homes, is expected to be operational in 2029.
The project has started work two years ahead of schedule
Ofgem director general for infrastructure group Akshay Kaul said: “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.
“Harnessing homegrown clean energy will help build a secure energy future for Britain, and projects like EGL2 are pivotal in our move towards that.
“This is the first project to successfully complete our new process and many more major energy projects are going through this fast-track pipeline.
“Our involvement with EGL2 doesn’t end here we stand poised to step in if needed to ensure maximise efficiency and consumer benefit.”
National Grid offshore delivery director Zac Richardson said: “Today marks an important moment for all involved in the project and the commitment of both National Grid and SSEN in delivering major projects that will play a key role in supporting the UK’s transition to a net zero economy.
“EGL2 is the first of four currently proposed 2GW projects between Scotland and England to begin construction and in total these projects, delivered in partnership by National Grid, could provide enough renewable electricity to power eight million homes.
“Achieving this first milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the huge commitment of the project team, our construction partners, stakeholders and the invaluable feedback from local communities.”
