Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1)
Torness, East Lothian, Scotland to Hawthorn Pit, County Durham, England · 2025–2029 (Construction started March 2025, expected operational by 2029) [1] [2] · £2.5 billion (inclusive of indirect costs) [1]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchReceived provisional approval from Ofgem, highlighting its strategic importance for the UK's energy transition and increasing grid capacity for renewable energy. The project aims to transport enough electricity for 2 million homes. [5]
Key engineering challenges
Laying a 196km subsea HVDC cable across the North Sea. - Integrating a 2GW HVDC link into the existing AC transmission networks in Scotland and England. - Managing supply chain constraints and ensuring timely delivery of critical components. - Addressing environmental considerations for both subsea and onshore cable routes.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission (joint venture)
- Lead contractor
- METLEN Energy & Metals, GE Vernova's Grid Solutions (for converter stations), Prysmian (cables) [3] [4]
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- 2 GW (gigawatts) capacity; 196 km high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable [2]
- Disciplines
- electrical; civil; marine; power systems; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- UK grid codes, relevant international standards for HVDC transmission, Ofgem regulatory framework.
Sources: Eastern Green Link 1: Subsea superhighway moves closer to construction (https://www.easterngreenlink1.co.uk/news/subsea-superhighway-moves-closer-to-construction) [1] - GE Plus: Construction starts on £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1 electricity superhighway (https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/construction-on-2-5bn-eastern-green-link-1-electricity-superhighway-19-02-2025/) [2] - Metlen Group LinkedIn: The Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) project is a two-gigawatt subsea... (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/metlengroup_the-eastern-green-link-1-egl1-project-is-activity-7363929373000814592-6BrY) [3] - National Grid: Eastern Green Link 1 Ltd awards £1.8bn of contracts... (https://www.nationalgrid.com/eastern-green-link-1-ltd-awards-ps18bn-contracts-deliver-uks-first-high-capacity-east-coast-cable-0) [4] - SP Energy Networks: Go ahead for electricity superhighway (https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/news/pages/ofgem_has_given_the_green_light_to_eastern_green_link_1.aspx) [5]