Hitachi Energy has been named preferred bidder to deliver converter stations for the Eastern Green Link 3 subsea power cable between Scotland and England.
EGL3 is a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission and will carry 2GW of clean electricity – enough to power two million homes – between Longside in Aberdeenshire and Walpole in Norfolk.
The 525kV high-voltage direct current link will run for about 680km via subsea and underground cables, with the ability to transmit power in both directions depending on demand.
National Grid said the project will help relieve pressure on the UK’s electricity network, improve energy security and reduce constraint costs.
Converter stations at either end of the link will be critical to transmitting large volumes of electricity over long distances.
Planning consent is expected to be sought in 2026, with construction proposed to start in 2029 and operations from 2033.
National Grid project director Mark Brackley said the deal marked “another important step towards building the grid of the future”.
SSEN Transmission deputy project director James Johnson said EGL3 would be “a vital part of the UK’s future electricity backbone”.
Hitachi Energy said it was committed to supporting the UK’s Clean Power 2030 target and strengthening the country’s interconnectivity.