General – Eastern Green Link
Contracts for the converter stations and cable system that will make up the Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) project have been signed.
The signage marks a milestone for the UK’s biggest ever electricity transmission project – a critical step towards reducing costs for consumers and delivering an economic boost for the UK.
The EGL3 contracts confirm Hitachi Energy as the delivery partner for the high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and West Norfolk, England, and NKT as the delivery partner for the subsea and underground cable that will link the converter stations.
These agreements, totalling nearly £3 billion, will see the construction of a 690 km high-voltage link, approximately 580 km of which will be offshore, stretching from Scotland to England. This link will be capable of transporting enough power for two million homes, making EGL3 the largest electricity transmission project of its kind in the UK.
Once operational, EGL3 will play a central role in reducing constraint costs – the payments made when wind farms are asked to turn down generation due to limited grid capacity. With renewable generation strongest offshore and along the east coast and in Scotland, EGL3 will help remove transmission bottlenecks so that cleaner, homegrown electricity can flow to where it is needed.
By increasing transmission capacity between Scotland and England, the project will strengthen the UK’s energy security and support more affordable energy bills.
The contracts emphasise the importance of a strong and resilient supply chain to deliver the scale of infrastructure required for the energy transition. Hitachi Energy and NKT are both strategic partners for National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission across their wider portfolios, supporting efforts to secure global supply chains, drive innovation, and maximise the economic value of major grid investments for the UK.
EGL3 has already received planning in principle for the converter station site in Scotland through the Netherton Hub and has undergone two rounds of public consultation in relation to the planned works in England, with a planning application expected to be submitted later this year. Subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, construction is due to begin in 2028, with the link expected to be energised in 2033.
