The developer of the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) subsea cable between Scotland and England has awarded nearly £2bn of contracts to the project’s previously announced preferred suppliers.
EGL1, a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Transmission, will deliver a 2GW HVDC subsea transmission cable from Torness in East Lothian to Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, enabling the transmission of renewable power across the UK.
The JV has awarded Prysmian Group a £750m contract to deliver the 525kV HVDC electricity transmission cable.
GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business and Mytilineos Energy & Metals have been awarded a £1bn contract to supply and construct two HVDC converter stations, one at each end of the link.
GE Vernova, the consortium leader, and Mytilineos will provide the engineering works and technology for the two converter stations.
The design phase will begin in January 2024 and construction will begin in 2025.
“Together with our consortium partner Mytilineos, we are honoured to have been awarded the HVDC contract for EGL1, one of the UK’s largest ever transmission projects.
“This critical project to the UK’s decarbonisation and energy security efforts adds to a growing backlog of projects that are utilising GE Vernova’s advanced HVDC technology,” said Philippe Piron, President and CEO of GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions.
EGL1, which will help move more clean energy from where it is generated to where it is needed and play a major role in the UK moving towards its net zero target, includes six subsea links between Scotland and England of which this joint project is the first.
Staffordshire-based GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business will be providing HVDC valves and control systems, as well as HVDC transformers, supporting the commitments and investments being made in their facilities and new jobs to support the growth in this industry.
EGL1’s Project Director Peter Roper said: “These contract announcements are big wins for the supply chain and another important milestone as we build the new network infrastructure to help the UK meet its net zero and energy security ambitions.
“We look forward to working in collaboration with Prysmian, GE Vernova and Mytilineos as the project continues to progress.”