Prysmian has secured a £2bn contract to supply cable for the Eastern Green Link 4 subsea electricity project being developed by SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission.
The manufacturer will deliver more than 640km of cable for the 2GW high-voltage direct current connection between Fife in Scotland and Norfolk in England, including around 530km of subsea cable and more than 116km of underground sections.
The partners said the link, which is due to be operational in 2033, will transport enough renewable electricity to power more than 1.5 million homes, while reducing grid constraints and strengthening energy security.
“Britain is undergoing a transformation of its transmission system, both onshore and offshore, and the Eastern Green Link 4 project plays a vital part in this,” said Iain Adams, project director for Eastern Green Link 4.
“Bringing Prysmian onboard means we have secured true experts in delivering large-scale HVDC cables that will support Britain for decades to come,” Adams added.
James Goode, project director at National Grid, said Eastern Green Link 4 forms a critical part of the east coast network reinforcements needed to support the UK’s future energy system.
“By investing in high-capacity HVDC infrastructure, we can move large volumes of clean electricity efficiently and at scale,” Goode said.
Raul Gil, Prysmian executive vice president for transmission, said the UK is setting a benchmark for future-proofing electricity connections through undersea HVDC links.
“Utilising the power of subsea HVDC cables to transport power between Scotland and England is a forward-thinking step – and one that many countries are now replicating,” Gil said.
The joint venture is developing two east coast links, with Prysmian also supplying cable for the 2GW Eastern Green Link 1 project between Torness and Hawthorn Pit.
