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Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), has reached another milestone in the development of a new subsea electricity superhighway after sealing contracts with BAM and Hitachi Energy to supply and build converter stations at either end of the subsea cable.
EGL2 will see the creation of a 525kV, 2GW HVDC subsea transmission cable from Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in England. The longest HVDC cable in the UK and the UK’s single largest electricity transmission project ever, transporting enough electricity to power two million UK homes.
BAM is working closely with Hitachi energy to provide the engineering works and technology for the HVDC converter stations, which form the terminals for the HVDC cable and convert direct current to the alternating current used in the onshore transmission network.
This latest milestone is another significant step as the project moves towards delivery and, following final approval from Ofgem, work is expected to commence later this year, with a targeted operational date of 2029.
The subsea HVDC cable system is approximately 436km in length with new converter stations at either end to connect it into the existing transmission network infrastructure. HVDC technology provides the most efficient and reliable means of transmitting large amounts of power over long distances subsea.
EGL2 is part of the significant amount of new network infrastructure required for net zero and will play a critical role in supporting the UK's future security of supply, reducing dependence and price exposure to volatile global wholesale gas markets.
BAM Nuttall Executive Director, Huw Jones, said: "We are pleased that BAM has been chosen by SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), to deliver another important milestone of this nationally significant infrastructure project. The work we are undertaking is perfectly aligned with BAM’s own commitment to deliver a sustainable tomorrow and we are delighted to play a key role in supporting UK's transition to a low carbon economy that will safeguard our energy supply for the future."
