National Grid / the EGL2 project launched local community funds and opened applications for community grants linked to construction activity. The EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund was set out with a lifetime value of £2,159,444 to be delivered over five years to support projects near the Peterhead converter station; the EGL2 Yorkshire Local Community Fund opened for applications with grants available up to £20,000 per project. The funds were presented as community benefit commitments delivered during the project construction period.
Enabling works at the Scottish landfall site at Sandford Bay, Peterhead, were scheduled to begin in October 2025. Following soil, ecology and ground investigation surveys carried out over the summer, the project team announced preparatory site works would commence later in October to ready the HDD compound and access arrangements ahead of horizontal directional drilling and cable pull-in operations.
Upgrade to access detailed cable specifications, supply chain data, projected timeline, financial analysis, and more.
Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) is a GB–GB high‑voltage direct‑current (HVDC) subsea transmission project that links Peterhead (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) with Drax (North Yorkshire, England). Delivered as a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and SSEN Transmission, EGL2...
Owners
EGL2
The UXO investigation campaign ran from August through October 2025. By October 2025, target investigations had taken place in the southern shallow parts of the route and works were progressing northward; the campaign completed according to the planned August–October 2025 window, providing target verification data to inform any required mitigation or micro‑routing.
By mid‑October 2025 the project reported that marine surveys (geophysical and geotechnical) had progressed steadily through summer and into autumn 2025. Collected data and completed target investigations were being compiled to finalise the marine cable route and landfall designs ahead of planned 2027 route preparation and 2028 cable installation.
GeoXYZ completed a geophysical survey of the southern section of the EGL2 subsea cable route in 2025. The survey results were used by the project team to refine the detailed development of the subsea cable alignment and to identify any required mitigations prior to later route-preparation and cable-installation phases.
Offshore unexploded ordnance (UXO) target surveying commenced near Peterhead in August 2025 as part of EGL2 marine preparatory works. The UXO campaign progressed southward along the route and was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025; the project reported no significant findings to date while surveys continued.
The planned geotechnical campaign at Sandford Bay ran through July into August 2025 and completed in August 2025. The campaign delivered seabed cores used to assess sediment properties (for example penetration resistance and layer continuity) to guide trenching, crossing and protection designs for the marine cable route.
Geotechnical investigations for the Sandford Bay marine route commenced in early July 2025. A jack‑up barge and associated geotechnical crew collected seabed core samples (four offshore bore/core locations were indicted for the area) to characterise sediment strength and stratigraphy and to inform burial and installation method selection for the subsea HVDC cables.
The Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK) announced an €800 million loan facility to National Grid Electricity Transmission for its share of financing for Eastern Green Link 2. SEK said the facility would support Swedish and European exports (including Hitachi Energy equipment) and was designated a Green Loan; the financing involved partner banks including Société Générale and BNP Paribas and was supported by an export credit guarantee from EKN. The announcement described the facility as part of the project-level financing package for the National Grid portion of EGL2.
The planned geophysical survey phase for the Sandford Bay area concluded at the end of June 2025. Data collected during this phase supported seabed mapping and sub-surface profiling to enable micro‑routing and informed subsequent geotechnical and UXO investigation planning.
Onshore environmental and technical surveys adjacent to Sandford Bay started around mid‑June 2025. Activities included onshore ecology assessments, ground investigation, noise and soil surveys to support landfall design, environmental baseline characterisation and consenting for the onshore elements of the cable route.
Eastern Green Link 2 began geophysical surveys in the Sandford Bay / Peterhead area in late May 2025. Project-contracted survey vessels conducted daily sweeps to collect seabed and sub-surface data (multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar and sub-bottom profiling, and magnetometry where required) within the preferred marine corridor to inform route engineering and identify obstructions and potential UXO targets.
EGL2 (SSEN Transmission/National Grid joint project) commenced offshore marine survey work in 2024 with its main works contractor Prysmian. The programme comprised geophysical, geotechnical and environmental surveys along the planned subsea cable corridor between Peterhead and Drax to map seabed conditions and inform routeing and installation planning ahead of subsea works scheduled for 2027–2028. Survey activity used specialist survey vessels and fed into detailed route engineering and mitigation planning.
Fraserburgh-based David Smith Contractors Ltd was awarded a multi‑million‑pound civil engineering contract by principal contractor BAM Nuttall to deliver enabling and platform formation works for the Peterhead converter station site. The scope included excavation and creation of a level platform using local quarried stone to support construction of the converter station building; the appointment underlined EGL2’s commitment to engaging local suppliers and was expected to support local employment while the broader converter station construction progressed.
A simultaneous ceremonial groundbreaking at both ends of the route marked the formal start of construction for Eastern Green Link 2. Representatives from National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission took the first spadefuls of earth at the Peterhead (Sandford Bay) and Wren Hall (Drax) sites on 26 September 2024, signalling the start of onshore works for the HVDC converter stations, associated site establishment and enabling activities. The event confirmed the project’s move from planning into physical delivery and was supported by key suppliers and stakeholders involved in the converter and cable programmes.
In August 2024 Ofgem (the UK Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) granted final regulatory approval for Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2). The decision authorised the joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission to proceed from development into construction for the c.2 GW HVDC subsea transmission link between Scotland (Peterhead) and England (Drax). The approval followed the regulator’s assessment of the project’s need, costs and impacts and unlocked onshore and offshore procurement and construction activities.
Ofgem issued its final project assessment decision for EGL2, confirming final approval of the project costs and enabling construction to proceed. National Grid and SSEN Transmission stated that the decision was the key final regulatory approval required to start construction and allow cost recovery through the regulatory mechanism; the project was described as a c.£4.3bn investment. The decision enabled on‑site enabling works and contract mobilisation with named suppliers (for example Prysmian and Hitachi Energy) and was publicly described by the joint venture as the ‘go‑ahead’ for the subsea connection.
Ofgem issued provisional regulatory approval for the expenditure required to deliver Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2). The decision endorsed the expected investment case for the 525kV, 2GW subsea HVDC link (a JV between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission), signalling regulatory support for the project’s costs and progressing the project through the regulatory approvals process. The announcement referenced a total expected nominal investment of around £4.3bn and helped underpin supplier contract awards and further development activity. This was a regulatory funding milestone rather than a developer FID or financial close.
Eastern Green Link 2 (a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid) signed a contract with the Prysmian Group to supply the HVDC subsea and underground cable for the 525 kV, 2 GW link between Peterhead and Drax. The award covers around 1,000 km of cable and Prysmian confirmed it could supply manufacture and installation capacity — including access to cable-laying vessels — to meet the project’s programme and the target energisation in 2029. The contract signing represented a delivery-stage milestone intended to mitigate global HVDC supply-chain risk for the project.
The EGL2 joint venture signed contracts with Hitachi Energy together with BAM to deliver the two HVDC converter stations required at the Peterhead and Drax ends of the link. Hitachi Energy was contracted to supply the HVDC technology (VSC-based converters) and BAM to provide civil and installation works, forming the converter terminals that will convert DC to AC for connection to the onshore transmission network. The contract signing was presented as a key delivery milestone for the subsea superhighway with expected energisation targeted for 2029.
Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) was established and is being delivered as a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission. The JV acted as the project vehicle that signed the major supplier contracts (cable manufacture/installation and converter station delivery) announced on 29 February 2024 and subsequently coordinated delivery activities, staffing and a shared collaboration centre in Glasgow. The joint venture structure places both transmission system operators (National Grid and SSEN Transmission) as co‑developers and co‑delivery partners for the 525kV, 2GW HVDC subsea link between Peterhead and Drax.
North Yorkshire Council granted planning consents on 11 August 2023 for the Drax-area works: outline planning permission for the HVDC converter station adjacent to Drax Power Station and full planning permission for the section of onshore cable in North Yorkshire. These consents provided the planning approvals required for the English Onshore Scheme connections to the existing transmission network.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) awarded a marine licence for the English territorial-water element of Eastern Green Link 2 on 28 July 2023. The MMO licence covered installation, cable protection and associated marine activities within the English marine corridor and formed the English marine consent for the Project.
Hitachi Energy announced it had been selected as the preferred technology provider to supply the two 525 kV, bipole VSC HVDC converter stations for the Eastern Green Link 2 project. The preferred selection secured Hitachi Energy’s role during the project’s procurement phase and signalled intent to proceed to contract award and delivery planning; the announcement emphasised Hitachi Energy’s technology, experience and production capacity as reasons for the selection.
Marine Scotland (MS-LOT) granted a marine licence for the Scottish territorial-water element of Eastern Green Link 2 on 5 May 2023. The licence authorised installation activities within the defined Scottish inshore corridor (approximately 150 km of cable in Scottish waters) and included conditions and corridor limits for subsea works in Scottish waters.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council granted full planning permission on 3 May 2023 for the majority of the English onshore underground cable route (planning reference 22/01990/STPLFE). The decision authorised construction of the sub-surface cable route, associated accesses and temporary construction compounds forming the English Onshore Scheme between the Fraisthorpe landfall and the Drax area.
In May 2023, Eastern Green Link 2 Limited, a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, selected Prysmian Group as the exclusive preferred bidder to supply the major HVDC cable system for the Eastern Green Link 2 subsea interconnector between Scotland and England, ahead of final contract award. This preferred supplier status was later followed by a firm contract award in 2024.
National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission submitted Marine Licence Applications (MLAs) for the Eastern Green Link 2 Marine Scheme to the Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team (MS-LOT) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The EAR published 21 June 2022 formed part of the MLA submission package and described the installation corridor, licensable activities and proposed mitigation for marine works.
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission / SSEN Transmission published a non-statutory Environmental Appraisal Report (EAR) on 21 June 2022 to accompany Marine Licence Applications for the Eastern Green Link 2 marine elements. The EAR described the Marine Scheme, assessed likely environmental effects across technical topics and provided mitigation measures; it was submitted to Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team (MS-LOT) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) as supporting environmental information for the marine licence applications.
Environmental Statement material for the English onshore elements (the English Onshore Scheme) was submitted as part of the planning applications made in May 2022 to East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Selby District Council. The documentation set included multiple Environmental Statement chapters and technical appendices supporting the planning applications for buried HVDC cable and the Drax-area converter station.
Aberdeenshire Council granted Planning Permission in Principle on 20 May 2022 for the HVDC converter station forming the Scottish Onshore Scheme for Eastern Green Link 2. The consent covered the converter station location and supported the Scottish onshore consenting process required alongside the marine and English onshore consents.
A planning application for the Scottish Onshore Scheme (including the HVDC converter station at Sandford Bay / Peterhead) was submitted to Aberdeenshire Council in November 2021 (planning reference APP/2021/2681). The submission formed the Scottish onshore consenting strand that complements the Marine Scheme and English onshore applications.
Ofgem issued its final project assessment and funding decision for Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) under the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, making EGL2 the first of 26 projects to complete the fast‑track process to secure funding. This regulatory funding approval, described as a major milestone by National Grid and SSEN Transmission, confirms the single largest‑ever investment in a UK electricity transmission infrastructure project and enables construction to begin, with the new subsea connection planned to be operational by 2029.
Showing historic events only. Subscribe for the full timeline including projected milestones.