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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Second Scotland-England subsea interconnector is approved
27/11/2024
News
The UK’s electricity grid is set for a significant upgrade following energy regulator Ofgem’s decision to green light the £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) project which will transport renewable energy from Scotland to England. This project, along with new battery storage facilities at Lakeside in North Yorkshire and Larks Green in South Gloucestershire, marks a substantial step towards the UK government’s clean power by 2030 target.
The EGL1 project involves the installation of a 196 km high-voltage, bi-directional subsea cable between Torness in East Lothian, Scotland, and Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, England. The cable will transport enough electricity to supply 2 million homes, according to the joint developers National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks. Two high-voltage direct current converter stations are also to be built, one at each end of the link.
The project has already secured around £1.8bn in contracts, including £750mn with Prysmian Group to deliver the UK’s first 525 kV high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) electricity transmission cable. A consortium of GE Vernova and Metlen Energy & Metals has been awarded a £1bn contract to supply and construct the HVDC converter stations.
Construction work is slated to begin on EGL1 onshore in spring 2025, with offshore works commencing in summer 2025.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) reports the project will reduce reliance on volatile international gas markets and save over £870mn/y by reducing the need to compensate wind generators during times of high wind due to lack of grid capacity.
Pearse Murray, SP Transmission Director at SP Energy Networks, adds that it is just one of four such links. ‘There is a huge pipeline of offshore wind projects waiting to be built, providing the UK with green, renewable electricity; these links will ensure the renewable energy generated doesn’t go to waste.’
The EGL1 announcement follows the recent start of construction of EGL2, a 525 kV, 2 GW subsea electricity transmission cable connecting Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in North Yorkshire, England. Due to be fully operational by 2029, EGL2 will be the UK’s longest subsea electricity transmission link. EGL2 is expected to be fully operational by 2029.
New BESS projects online
Meanwhile, the UK’s grid has been further strengthened with the addition of two new battery energy storage systems (BESS).
TagEnergy’s 100 MW/200 MWh battery project at Lakeside recently became the UK’s largest transmission-connected BESS following its connection to the Drax substation in North Yorkshire in mid-November. The facility will boost the capacity and flexibility of the nation’s electricity network.
Also earlier this month, Cero Generation commissioned the UK’s first transmission-connected co-located solar and battery storage facility, at Larks Green, South Gloucestershire. The project includes a 49.5 MW/99 MWh BESS facility and a 70 MWp solar PV farm. It is expected to power over 17,300 homes, displacing 20,500 t/y of CO2 annually compared to traditional energy production, according to Cero.
