SSEN Transmission has submitted a marine licence application for the Scottish section of the Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) subsea electricity cable, marking a key step in the development of one of the UK’s largest planned power transmission projects.
The application, submitted to the Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT), seeks approval for the installation and operation of the subsea infrastructure in Scottish waters, including inshore areas where the cable comes ashore.
EGL3 is a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission. The 680-kilometre high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable is designed to transport up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable electricity from Aberdeenshire in Scotland to west Norfolk in England – enough to power approximately two million homes.
SSEN Transmission said the licence application follows several years of preparatory work, including extensive marine surveys and consultation with offshore developers, marine users, and other stakeholders.
“In preparing our application, we’ve worked closely with local communities – including marine stakeholders – and collaborated with other third-party developers and asset owners in the region,” said James Johnson, EGL3 project director. “We would like to thank all those who provided feedback as part of our pre-application consultation process, which has been so valuable in helping to shape our proposals.”
A decision on the marine licence is expected within the next 12 months, according to SSEN Transmission.
Once operational, EGL3 is expected to play a significant role in strengthening the UK’s electricity transmission network and supporting national energy transition and security goals.
