Prysmian to supply 2GW EGL1 connection

Manufacturer is preferred bidder for HVDC cable link between Scotland and northern England

Prysmian has been selected as preferred bidder for 2GW connection in the UK, called the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1).

EGL1 is a planned high voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine and underground cable link of around 200 km route length (requiring approximately 400 km of cable) between Torness in Scotland and Hawthorn Pit in the north of England.

EGL1 forms part of a series of planned system reinforcements required to increase the capability of the existing UK transmission network and facilitate the growth in flows of renewable generation in the north to demand centres to the south.

If built, it will support the target of enabling 50 GW offshore wind generation by 2030 and achieving a Net Zero economy by 2050.

Prysmian Group is continuing the contract negotiations with the aim of concluding the contract later this year.

With a power transmission capacity of 2GW the connection is expected to be the first cable system in the UK to utilise 525kV technology with extruded XLPE insulation.

An HVAC 400kV cable system for a route length of 5 km (requiring around 30 km of cable) shall also connect the converter station and grid substation at the Scotland end of the route.