National Grid Electricity Transmission owns and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. Every time a phone is plugged in, or a switch is turned on, National Grid Electricity Transmission have played a part, connecting you to the electricity you need.

Electricity generated from windfarms and other power sources is transported through the electricity network of pylons, overhead lines, cables, and substations. It then goes on to separate lower voltage local distribution networks, which connect directly to homes and businesses.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission operate under licence as Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc (SHE Transmission) for the transmission of electricity in the north of Scotland.

Their transmission network connects large scale generation, primarily renewables, to central and southern Scotland and the rest of Great Britain. It also helps secure supply by providing reliable connection to the wider network of generation plans

It’s the highest voltage electricity network in the UK – the ‘motorway network’ of the energy world. It transmits large quantities of electricity over long distances via wires carried on a system of mainly metal towers (pylons) and large substations. Transmission voltages are 132kV, 275kV and 400kV. Larger generation schemes usually connect to the Transmission system.

The lower voltage parts of the system are called distribution networks. In Scotland, these local networks operate below 132kV whereas in England the distribution network includes 132kV.

We are constructing a new high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity cable connection from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland to Drax in North Yorkshire, England.

The HVDC connection will include two new converter stations, one in Peterhead and one in Drax and a new onshore, underground cable and offshore cable running between them.

The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy and have targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2045 in Scotland and 2050 in the UK.

As the country shifts away from traditional forms of fuel to heat homes, charge vehicles and power businesses, there is greater need for green electricity. As a result of this, the UK Government has set a 50GW offshore wind connections target by 2030.

Peterhead and Drax were identified as the most appropriate locations to connect EGL2 to the existing transmission networks as they provide the network capability in the most optimum way.

Many factors were very carefully considered in the development stage, including, balancing cost, benefit to the network and minimising infrastructure and impacts on people, places and the environment.

Construction of EGL2 began in September 2024 and completion of the works is expected to be in 2029.

The onshore cables will be buried below ground and construction activities will be temporary. After our works are complete, the land will be returned to how we found it or better.

There will also be disruption associated with the construction of both of our converter stations. Ahead of all upcoming works, notice will be given both on this website and through regular contact with our neighbours.

Our normal working hours are typically 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 5pm on Saturdays. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when some works will need to be completed outside of these hours.