Martin Whitfield MSP has attended a groundbreaking event marking the start of construction on a subsea electricity superhighway which will help expand the grid for the future. As well as supporting long-term local development for regional communities playing host to the critical electricity infrastructure.
Eastern Green Link 1, a £2.5bn joint venture between SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission, will transport green electricity for two million homes along 196km of predominantly undersea cable linking the south-east of Scotland with the north-east of England.
The project was given the green light by Ofgem last year and onshore works are now underway with offshore construction due to start in the summer. At the cable’s two landfall points, Torness, in East Lothian, and Hawthorn Pit, in County Durham, two converter stations will be built to change the electricity from alternating to direct current – the most efficient way for it to travel long distances. Specialist boats are then used to lay the cable across the seabed and bury it throughout the route before connecting it to the grid.
Today SP Energy Networks CEO, Nicola Connelly, National Grid Electricity Transmission President of Strategic Infrastructure, Carl Trowell, confirmed a £8m fund has been approved by Ofgem to support communities and deliver social, environmental and economic benefits where the cable meets land in East Lothian and County Durham. Set to open later this year, the fund recognises the important contribution communities in will play in hosting vital energy infrastructure and strengthening energy security.
Martin Whitfield MSP said:
“I was delighted to attend this important ground breaking event for the start of work on Eastern Green Link 1. This is a really important infrastructure project for East Lothian, Scotland and the north-east of England and I look forward to following its progress in the months ahead.”
Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said:
“Electricity supports every part of our day-to-day lives and with demand set to double we now need the grid to match.
“Eastern Green Link 1 will play a transformative role in delivering the modern electricity network needed for the future. At the same time, it will deliver economic growth, jobs and a supply chain boost right across the UK but importantly also for the communities hosting this vital infrastructure.
“Together with our partners at National Grid Electricity Transmission we will support our local communities with projects that matter to them and deliver long term social value and direct benefits for years to come.”
Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure for National Grid Electricity Transmission said:
“The electricity projects we are delivering from now to 2030 and beyond, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK are monumental. They will meet future energy demand, achieve greater energy security alongside the delivery of cleaner power, and will help to contribute to lower bills for consumers.
“With a focus on economic development and community engagement, this project will demonstrate firsthand the power of collaborative, large-scale infrastructure in creating lasting positive change.”