$4 B contracts for UK’s largest HVDC
National Grid and SSEN Transmission appoint Hitachi Energy and NKT for 690 km, 2 GW Eastern Green Link 3.
Image for illustrative purposes
UK, Scotland / England: National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and SSEN Transmission have signed contracts worth nearly $4 B (£3 B) for the delivery of Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3), the UK’s largest HVDC project. The 690 km link, including around 580 km offshore, will connect Scotland to England and carry up to 2 GW, enough to power about two million homes.
Hitachi Energy will deliver the converter stations in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and West Norfolk, England, while NKT will supply and install the subsea and underground HVDC cables. NKT’s contract, valued at over €2.2 B, is the largest single project award in the company’s history, covering the full design, manufacture, and installation of the link, with commissioning planned by 2033.
The project addresses a key challenge in the UK’s energy transition: renewable generation is concentrated offshore in Scotland, while demand is spread across the country. In 2025, over 12 TWh of renewable power was curtailed due to insufficient grid connections. EGL3 aims to reduce constraint costs, improve energy security, and support jobs and economic growth.
The Scottish converter station has already secured planning in principle, while the English works have undergone public consultations. Subject to approval, construction will begin in 2028, with the link energised in 2033. EGL3 forms part of the broader Eastern Green Links programme, which includes similar HVDC projects like EGL1 and EGL4 to strengthen the UK’s east coast electricity network.
Source: HVDC World
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