1. Ofgem has provisionally approved £4.3 billion for the Eastern Green Link 2 project, which is the largest-ever investment in electricity transmission infrastructure in Great Britain.
2. The project will include a 525kV 2GW subsea superhighway link running from northeast Scotland to the east coast of England, capable of powering two million homes.
3. The project is part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade and SSEN’s ‘Pathway to 2030’ investments, aiming to unlock Scotland’s renewable potential and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
British energy regulator Ofgem has given provisional approval for funding of the £4.3 billion Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) project, the largest-ever investment in electricity transmission infrastructure in Great Britain. EGL2 is a 525kV 2GW link spanning 436km from Scotland to England, providing enough electricity for two million homes. Project partners SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission are working together on the project.
The EGL2 cable system is part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade and SSEN’s ‘Pathway to 2030’ investments, with a total investment of around £20 billion over the next decade in the north of Scotland’s electricity transmission network. This project will unlock Scotland’s renewable potential, reduce transmission costs, and support the UK’s decarbonization goals.
The project has signed contracts with supply chain partners for all major works, remaining on track for completion in 2029. Lessons learned from this project will support future HVDC deployment, crucial for increasing grid capacity for a clean energy power system. Energy minister Graham Stuart has emphasized the importance of infrastructure improvements for adding renewable energy to the grid and supporting the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions.