A major £2 billion funding package has been secured for the construction of a new electric superhighway connecting Scotland and England.
The project will involve a 196km subsea and underground cable, designed to strengthen energy security, reduce electricity bills, and help meet the Government’s green energy targets.
The National Grid’s Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) project is a key component of the Government’s Clean Power 2030 ambition.
It will facilitate the transfer of wind-generated electricity between Torness in East Lothian, Scotland, and Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, England.
The majority of the 196km cable will run under the North Sea, with 20km of the cable laid underground to connect substations in both countries.
This new electric superhighway is expected to reduce the UK’s dependence on the volatile international gas market, which has been impacted by recent crises, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the project will save Britain’s energy system more than £870 million annually by addressing issues with grid capacity.
This will prevent British wind generators from having to shut down during periods of high wind when there’s no room on the grid to accommodate the electricity.
Ofgem has also managed to reduce the overall project costs by £43 million without compromising on quality or delivery.
As part of the project’s development, a new £7.9 million social value and community benefit fund will be established to support local communities in Scotland and North-East England that will host the infrastructure.
Beatrice Filkin, Director of Major Projects at Ofgem, said, “Today’s announcement takes us another step closer to achieving Great Britain’s 2030 Clean Power ambitions. It means customers can reap the benefits of abundant homegrown wind faster, while also being increasingly shielded from volatile imported gas prices.”
The project is also part of Ofgem’s new Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, which aims to fast-track critical energy projects. EGL1 is the second of 26 such projects, which together are valued at an estimated £20 billion.
Earlier this year, Ofgem approved a £3.4 billion 500km electric superhighway connecting Aberdeenshire to North Yorkshire.
The new electric superhighway project is set to play a crucial role in the UK’s transition to clean, sustainable energy while also bringing economic benefits and greater stability to the energy market.
