WORK on the £4.3 billion EGL2 project advanced significantly yesterday with a joint groundbreaking ceremony taking place simultaneously in Scotland and England at the start of each end of the 2GW subsea electricity link.
This event marks a major achievement in the journey towards reducing carbon emissions in the country’s energy infrastructure. Representatives from SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), who will manage the project as a partnership, were the first to dig the ceremonial first shovels of earth, signaling the commencement of the primary construction phase. The ceremonies were held in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, and Drax, North Yorkshire.
The project spans over 500 kilometers and will include the construction of the UK’s longest HVDC subsea cable (436 kilometers), making it the largest electricity transmission project in the country’s history. It is designed to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately two million homes.
The project aims to create hundreds of skilled positions during its construction phase and thousands more throughout the broader economy, including through the supply chain.
Gregor Alexander, the Chair of the SSEN Transmission Board, was present in Peterhead alongside other SSEN Transmission and NGET representatives, as well as key suppliers Prysmian, who will produce and install the cable, Hitachi Energy, and BAM, who will supply the converter stations at both ends of the link, and representatives from the industry regulator Ofgem.
Commenting at the ceremony, the Chair of SSEN Transmission’s Board, Gregor Alexander, said: “Today’s groundbreaking is a landmark day in this nationally critical infrastructure project, and testament to a huge collective effort from the project teams at SSEN Transmission and NGET who have worked tirelessly to get us to a stage where construction work can begin.
“EGL2 will play a major role in bolstering energy security and contributing to net zero targets, but it will also generate jobs and provide a legacy to local communities here in the north-east of Scotland, where our teams are already supporting local environmental initiatives.
“We are committed to working alongside the local community throughout the lifetime of the project and beyond, as we aim to be a positive force in the communities we operate.”
Akshay Kaul, Ofgem Director General for Infrastructure Group, said: “Today is a historic occasion. Not only is construction starting on EGL2, Britain’s biggest ever electricity transmission project, but we’re also standing here two years earlier than we might have been thanks to Ofgem’s fast track new process which cuts red tape to get consumers across the country connected to renewable energy more quickly.
“Harnessing homegrown clean energy will help build a secure energy future for Britain, and projects like EGL2 are pivotal in our move towards that. The part Scotland plays in achieving that goal cannot be overstated, and the long-term gains for Scottish billpayers, in terms of secure, more affordable, and cleaner power will be reaped for generations to come.”
EGL2 is expected to be fully energised and operational in 2029.
