Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of construction on £4.3 billion electricity superhighway between Scotland and England

National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission have commenced construction on the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2). EGL2 is a £4.3 billion* project that will see the installation of a 525kV, 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England. The project will see the longest HVDC cable in the UK and will be the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project, providing enough electricity to power two million UK homes.

Construction work on EGL2, a major UK electricity infrastructure project, took a momentous step forward on 26 September, with a symbolic simultaneous ground-breaking ceremony in Scotland and England at either end of the subsea cable.

In a significant milestone in the step towards decarbonising the energy system, representatives from National Grid and SSEN Transmission took the first ceremonial spadefuls of earth, marking the start of construction, at events held at either end of the subsea link in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Wren Hall in Drax, North Yorkshire.

Once completed, the subsea cable, spanning 436km under the sea from Peterhead, will come ashore on the East Yorkshire coast at Fraisthorpe Sands and run underground for 68km to a new converter station at Drax. In Scotland, once reaching landfall at Sandford Bay, the cable will run underground for a further 1km to a new converter station at Peterhead. This superhighway for electricity will unlock the rich renewable energy capacity of Scotland and significantly increase the UK’s capacity to deliver clean energy for around two million homes.

At peak periods of construction, the project is expected to support hundreds of local jobs through supply chain and construction activity. Recent buyer events attracted more than 250 representatives from local businesses in Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire, showcasing a diverse range of skill sets from plant hire and catering to steel fixing and logistics.

Representatives from National Grid and SSEN Transmission were joined by colleagues from specialist HVDC cable supplier, Prysmian, and Hitachi Energy and BAM, responsible for the supply of converter stations at either end of the project, underlining the collaborative spirit and support for the much-anticipated scheme.

Commenting at the ceremony, the Chair of SSEN Transmission’s Board, Gregor Alexander, said: 

"Today’s groundbreaking is a landmark day in this nationally critical infrastructure project, and testament to a huge collective effort from the project teams at SSEN Transmission and NGET who have worked tirelessly to get us to a stage where construction work can begin.

EGL2 will play a major role in bolstering energy security and contributing to net zero targets, but it will also generate jobs and provide a legacy to local communities here in the north-east of Scotland, where our teams are already supporting local environmental initiatives.

We are committed to working alongside the local community throughout the lifetime of the project and beyond, as we aim to be a positive force in the communities we operate."

Offshore Delivery Director for National Grid, Zac Richardson added: 

"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."

Akshay Kaul, Ofgem Director General for Infrastructure Group, 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."

EGL2 is the first of four currently proposed 2GW projects between Scotland and England to begin construction. In total, these projects, delivered in partnership by National Grid, SSEN Transmission and SP Energy Networks could provide enough renewable electricity to power eight million homes.

The Wren Hall Converter Station in Drax has already seen the start of main construction activities, including site establishment and vegetation clearance, with surveys expected to continue along the underground cable route in the coming months. The project is slated to be operational in 2029.
 

Notes to editors

*At a total expected nominal investment of around £4.3bn, 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. Ofgem calculated a total expected nominal investment figure of £3.4bn, which is based on 2018/19 prices, the base for the price control. Adjusted for inflation this equates to around £4.3bn.