Ofgem has permitted the prices of Britain’s greatest transmission infrastructure funding on document. The subsea cable connecting north-east Scotland and north-east England is anticipated to ease community congestion and velocity up the roll-out of renewables.
The United Kingdom’s largest subsea cable so far has been permitted by the nation’s power regulator. Ofgem has confirmed the ultimate approval of the prices related to the supply of Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2). This signifies that development can now begin on the 525 kV 2 GW subsea connection between Peterhead within the north-east of Scotland and Drax on the east coast of England. The last determination of the regulator to guage the mission for the excessive voltage direct present (HVDC) connection is the ultimate key approval course of. EGL2 is anticipated to enter operation in 2029.
The North Sea waters off the northeast coast of England and Scotland are key hubs for offshore wind era within the United Kingdom, with initiatives together with the 1,075 MW Seagreen Wind Farm and three.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. EGL2 will join the areas via an HVDC hyperlink that may exceed 500 km.
Electricity system operator National Grid ESO has beforehand advisable new transmission infrastructure within the area, together with Eastern Green Link 2, in response to congestion on the border community between England and Scotland. In the Beyond 2030 report revealed as early as 2024, ESO claimed that such a hyperlink would offer “important capability” to alleviate bottlenecks within the transmission community with out requiring important coastal infrastructure.
EGL2 is a three way partnership between transmission homeowners National Grid and SSEN Transmission. The cable is the one largest funding in electrical energy transmission infrastructure in Great Britain on document, with a complete anticipated nominal funding of round GBP 4.3 billion ($5.5 billion). Contracts for the supply of the mission have been awarded to Prysmian Group, which is able to provide 1,000 km of cable, and Hitachi Energy and BAM for the provision of converter stations at both finish of the subsea hyperlink.
The 2 GW cable is a part of SSEN Transmission’s Pathway to 2030 programme, a GBP 20 billion funding to improve the electrical energy community within the north of Scotland, which the corporate claims will “unlock the nation’s renewable power assets. “
In a press launch, EGL2 mission director Ricky Saez described Ofgem’s approval as a “main milestone … not solely will EGL2 play a serious function in strengthening power safety and contributing to the web zero targets, it is going to additionally present a long-lasting legacy to native communities the place our groups already help native environmental initiatives that enhance group well-being.
Sandy Mactaggart, director of offshore transmission for SSEN Transmission, added that SSEN Transmission can be trying ahead to working with National Grid on future initiatives. This consists of the third Eastern Green Link offshore HVDC, operating from Peterhead to Lincolnshire, England.
Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley mentioned the regulator is “absolutely dedicated” to supporting the UK authorities in its bid to decarbonise Great Britain’s power sector by 2030. He added that the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI ) framework by Ofgem, which exempts some strategic initiatives from competitors, rushing up approval occasions for initiatives resembling EGL2 by as much as two years.
“However, streamlining the method doesn’t imply clean checks for builders as a result of we’re in a position to step in and make monetary changes to extend effectivity and profit customers,” he mentioned.
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