National Grid has secured £2 billion to develop the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1), a 196-kilometer cable designed to transport wind-generated electricity in the UK. The project, undertaken with ScottishPower Energy Networks, was approved under Ofgem's new fast-track funding process.
EGL1 will carry 2 GW of electricity from Torness, East Lothian, to Hawthorn Pit, County Durham. Most of the cable will run under the North Sea, with underground connections to substations in Scotland and England. The initiative supports the UK's Clean Power 2030 target, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving grid efficiency.
The National Energy System Operator estimates that EGL1 will save £870 million annually by limiting the need to curtail wind energy production during high winds. This is expected to lower consumer bills and maximize the use of renewable energy. Ofgem has identified £43 million in cost savings for the project while maintaining delivery standards.
Host communities in Scotland and North-East England will receive a £7.9 million benefit fund to support local development. The EGL1 project is one of 26 critical initiatives under Ofgem's Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework, aimed at expediting energy infrastructure to deliver renewable energy more rapidly.
