Offshore wind's Superhighway - Eastern Green Link 3
Contracts for what will be the longest subsea cable project in the UK have been placed with NKT for supply of a 680km HVDC cable and with Hitachi for the supply of the HVDC converter stations linking Longside in Aberdeenshire and Walpole in Norfolk.
The 2GW Eastern Green Link 3 is a joint venture project from SSE Networks and National Grid aimed at delivering future offshore wind power in Scotland to the demand centres in the south of England. At a cost of over £3bn it will be, as its name suggests, the third such project to link Scotland to England and create a 525kv Superhighway for electricity from offshore and onshore wind to domestic and commercial consumers in the far south of the UK.
James Johnson, Deputy Project Director for EGL3 at SSEN Transmission said:
"EGL3 is a vital investment in the UK’s future energy system. By securing the power cable contract, we are taking a decisive step towards strengthening the electricity network so more clean, homegrown power can flow from where it is generated to where it is needed most. This project will play a key role in cutting constraint costs, supporting consumer affordability and delivering long-term economic benefits, while building the resilient infrastructure required to meet the UK’s energy security and clean power ambitions."
Mark Brackley, Project Director for EGL3 at National Grid said:
"Signing this contract is a major milestone for EGL3 and for the joint venture between National Grid and SSEN Transmission. By working with world-class supply chain partners, we are investing in infrastructure that will reduce constraint costs, strengthen energy security and ensure more clean electricity can flow to homes and businesses across the country, while also supporting jobs and economic growth in the regions, says Mark Brackley, Project Director for EGL3 at National Grid."