Work starts on ‘electricity superhighway’
The £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1 project was given the green light in November and will see a 196km high-voltage, bi-directional subsea electricity cable laid between Hawthorn Pit in County Durham and Torness in East Lothian, Scotland.
As the government pushes on with its clean energy focus, the project is a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks and will transport large volumes of green electricity around the country.
Ofgem’s decision to give it the go-ahead means green energy from offshore windfarms will be moved across the UK to power homes and businesses.
The link will be able to transport enough energy to power up to two million homes.
Around £1.8bn of contracts have been awarded, including £750m with Prysmian Group to deliver the UK’s first 525kV HVDC electricity transmission cable.
E Vernova and Metlen Energy & Metals have been awarded a £1bn contract to supply and build two HVDC converter stations to support the project, one at each end of the line.
Offshore works are expected to commence in summer.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “This new electric superhighway will help us on our way by transporting more renewable energy under the North Sea to power millions of homes and businesses, while supporting skilled jobs in our industrial heartlands and saving billpayers hundreds of millions of pounds
“It forms part of our once in a generation upgrade to Britain’s energy infrastructure, using some of the most advanced subsea technology in the world.”
Pearse Murray, SP transmission director at SP Energy Networks, said: “We look forward to developing this transformative infrastructure project, but given its technically complex and innovative nature other critical decisions remain to be taken and we continue to engage with Ofgem on these.
“This offshore link will transport enough electricity for two million homes alone and with three more links expected, the east coast could see electricity for over eight million homes transported under the sea, making a significant difference to the UK’s economic and climate ambitions.
“There is a huge pipeline of offshore wind projects waiting to be built, providing the UK with green, renewable electricity, these links will ensure the renewable energy generated doesn’t go to waste.”
