National Grid has announced the selection of suppliers for two key parts of its £59 billion High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) supply chain framework. The framework, launched in 2023, aims to establish long-term relationships and secure vital equipment for significant energy projects nationwide.

Six HVDC cable suppliers have been appointed to the Framework Agreement, covering an estimated £21.3 billion worth of work. These are Hellenic & Jan De Nul Consortium, LS Cable & System, NKT Cables, Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric, and Taihan Cable & Solution.

Additionally, four suppliers have been awarded places on the HVDC converter systems Framework, totalling approximately £24.6 billion. The successful firms are GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, and Siemens Energy.

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The framework agreements are initially for a five-year period, with the option to extend for a further three years, and cover both confirmed and anticipated projects.

Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, described the announcement as "another exciting milestone in delivering the greatest overhaul of the grid in a generation – The Great Grid Upgrade." He emphasised the framework's role in accessing global supply chains, driving efficiencies, and fostering innovation.

Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, highlighted the company's position as the world's largest operator of subsea power cables. He stated that the framework "strengthens our supply chain" and "ensures we can develop and deliver innovative international projects in a timely manner and boosts energy security with confidence."

The suppliers on the framework will support the delivery of early projects including Eastern Green Link 4, Sealink, and Lionlink.

Representatives from the successful supplier companies expressed their commitment to supporting the UK's energy transition and working with National Grid to deliver these critical infrastructure projects.

The establishment of this framework is seen as a crucial step in delivering the infrastructure required for the UK's energy transition, which is expected to boost security of supply, drive economic growth, and create numerous new jobs.