Hitachi Energy has been selected as preferred technology provider of SSEN Transmission and National Grid, to supply two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations to interconnect the Scottish and English power grids.
Eastern Green Link 2 (pictured) will consist of two 525-kilovolt (kV) bipole VSC converter stations connected by 440 kilometres of subsea cable and 70 kilometres of underground cable, making it the longest HVDC link in the UK, Hitachi said.
The link will efficiently supply a total of 2000MW of electricity, which is enough to power around two million UK homes.
The link will help to secure power transmission in the northern UK and support the integration of new renewable electricity generation in Scotland, as part of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy.
As much as 11GW of offshore wind capacity is possible in Scottish waters by 2030, and HVDC transmission will play a large part in bringing this vast amount of renewable power to shore and south, to communities across the country.
Hitachi Energy is collaborating with BAM, a construction company that designs, builds, and maintains sustainable buildings and infrastructure, to provide the civil and installation scope for the project.
Niklas Persson, managing director at Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business, said: “The UK’s Net Zero Strategy has ambitious targets which will require vast amounts of new renewable generation.
“Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system.
“Our pioneering HVDC technology will ensure that this electricity will reliably and efficiently get where it’s needed most.”
Sarah Sale, deputy project director of National Grid, added: “This is another important milestone for EGL2 which is part of the new network infrastructure required to help the UK meet its net zero and energy security ambitions.
“Along with cabling bidder and formal joint venture announcements, this is another key part of the project which is now in place and ready for the delivery phase.”