Contracts Signed For Eastern Green Link 2 Cable And Converter Stations
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
These four bullet points, act as sub-headings.
- Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) is a 525kV, 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England delivered as a joint venture by National Grid and SSEN Transmission
- The joint venture has signed a contract with the Prysmian Group to supply around 1,000km of cable for the project and a contract with Hitachi Energy and BAM for the supply of converter stations at either end of the subsea cable
- Contract signing is a significant milestone for the project as it progresses towards the delivery phase
- EGL2 will be the longest HVDC cable in the UK and the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, providing enough electricity to power two million UK homes
This paragraph outlines the project.
EGL2, a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), has reached another milestone in the development of a new subsea electricity superhighway after sealing contracts this week with specialist HVDC cable supplier, Prysmian, and with Hitachi Energy and BAM for the supply of converter stations at either end of the project.
These four paragraphs add more detail.
EGL2 will see the creation of a 525kV, 2GW HVDC subsea transmission cable from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England. The longest HVDC cable in the UK and the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, it will provide enough electricity to power two million UK homes.
Prysmian has confirmed it has the capability to deliver the project with its manufacturing facilities for the production of the HVDC cable and its cable laying vessels for the installation in the timescale required for EGL2 to meet its targeted energisation date in 2029, supporting the timely delivery of this project and mitigating risks associated with global constraints in the HVDC supply chain.
Hitachi Energy is partnering with BAM to provide the engineering works and technology for the HVDC converter stations which form the terminals for the HVDC cable and convert direct current to the alternating current used in the onshore transmission network. This latest milestone is another significant step as the project moves towards delivery and, following final approval from Ofgem, work is expected to commence later this year, with a targeted operational date of 2029.
The subsea HVDC cable system is approximately 436km in length with new converter stations at either end to connect it into the existing transmission network infrastructure. HVDC technology provides the most efficient and reliable means of transmitting large amounts of power over long distances subsea.
Note.
- EGL2 can handle 2 GW.
- There is a targeted operational date of 2029.
- Eastern Green Link 2 now has its own web site.
- Most of these links now seem to be HVDC.
A map in the press release, shows the undersea route may be shorter.
It also appears to me, that moving electricity around the UK under the sea, is possibly the most environmentally-friendly and least intrusive way to do it.
We already have four HVDC interconnectors.
There will be many more,
The Anonymous Widower 
Good to see it finally being realised but should have been in operation by now was the original plan and a classic example of stuff just taking too long in this country. Yesterday over 60GWh of wind was constrained off largely within Scotland which having this link operational would have avoided. This is why they shouldn’t allow anymore wind onto the system unless the transmission capacity is there.
Comment by nickrl | March 14, 2024 |
There was a long court case, that went to appeal about the overland cables across Suffolk. The case was a “Dripping Roast” in legal terms.
I feel that the cables should go offshore, as that enables offshore substations to send spare electricity to Europe.
Comment by AnonW | March 14, 2024 |
Having to run cables 35miles from the coast to Drax must be massively adding to the costs here but agree extremely sensible to route most of it under the sea although would suggest we need a high quality maritime surveillance system with all this mission critical infrastructure vulnerable on the sea bed. Remember Nord Stream 2 being destroyed and now the Baltic interconnector.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | March 14, 2024
They couyld even take the cable up the Ouse to Drax, as the Nimbies wouldn’t object.
Comment by AnonW | March 15, 2024 |
[…] Contracts Signed For Eastern Green Link 2 Cable And Converter Stations, I talked about the proposed link between Peterhead in Scotland and Drax in England, which will be […]
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[…] Contracts have been signed, as I talk about in Contracts Signed For Eastern Green Link 2 Cable And Converter Stations. […]
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Ofgem have now provided the final approval/funding for this https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-release/proposed-anglo-scottish-electricity-superhighway-first-clear-final-fast-track-funding-hurdle There’s news on other proposals in that press releases.
Comment by Peter Robins | August 13, 2024 |
And NG reports there were symbolic ground-breaking events in both England and Scotland yesterday https://www.nationalgrid.com/groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-start-construction-ps43bn-electricity-superhighway-between-scotland
Comment by Peter Robins | September 27, 2024 |
[…] Contracts Signed For Eastern Green Link 2 Cable And Converter Stations, I described how contracts were signed for EGL2 from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England […]
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