Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2)
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland to Drax, North Yorkshire, England · 2024–2029 (Construction started 2024, expected operational by 2029) [1] [2] · £4.3 billion [3]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchReceived final approval from Ofgem in August 2024, enabling the transfer of clean energy to power around two million homes. [2] [3]
Key engineering challenges
Laying a 505km subsea HVDC cable, making it the UK's largest electricity transmission project. [3] - Integrating a 2GW HVDC link into the existing AC transmission networks in Scotland and England. - Managing complex civil engineering works for converter stations and cable landfalls. [5]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (joint venture)
- Lead contractor
- Hitachi Energy (HVDC converter stations), Balfour Beatty (cable route), David Smith Contractors Ltd (civil engineering works) [4] [5]
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- 2 GW (gigawatts) capacity; 505 km HVDC electrical superhighway (subsea cable) [1]
- Disciplines
- electrical; civil; marine; power systems; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- UK grid codes, relevant international standards for HVDC transmission, Ofgem regulatory framework.
Sources: SSEN Transmission: Eastern Green Link 2 (https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/eastern-green-link-2/) [1] - The Engineer: Green light for Eastern Green Link 2 (https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/green-light-for-eastern-green-link-2) [2] - Facebook (Peterhead.live): Construction has started on the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2)... (https://www.facebook.com/peterhead.live/photos/construction-has-started-on-the-eastern-green-link-2-egl2-a-43bn-electricity-tra/837387551938337/) [3] - Hitachi Energy: Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) (https://www.hitachienergy.com/news-and-events/customer-stories/eastern-green-link-2) [4] - New Civil Engineer: Siemens wins Eastern Green Link 4 converter ... Eastern Green Link 2 hits civils milestone (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/siemens-wins-eastern-green-link-4-converter-stations-eastern-green-link-2-hits-civils-milestone-21-07-2025/) [5]