Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) is an under construction 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link in the UK. It is one of the four planned electricity transmission links between Scotland and England.
A joint venture of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission is developing the 525kV subsea transmission link.
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The project is slated for completion in 2029. Once operational, EGL2 can transfer enough electricity to power nearly two million homes.
The development of EGL2 will entail a total cost of around €5bn (£4.3bn).
EGL2 Route
The EGL2 subsea connection will stretch between Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Drax in North Yorkshire, England.
Most of this electrical ‘superhighway’ cable link will be located in the North Sea.
EGL2 Development Timeline
The onshore environmental survey for the Eastern Green Link 2 was conducted between 2020 and 2021, while offshore seabed surveys took place in 2021.
In February 2022, the plans for both the offshore and onshore components of the project were submitted.
Aberdeenshire Council granted Planning Permission in Principle for the HVDC converter station in May 2022.
Marine licences for EGL2’s 436km subsea cable were issued by Marine Scotland in May 2023 and the Marine Management Organisation in July 2023. Full planning permission for the majority of the project’s onshore underground cable was granted by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in May 2023, following a planning application submitted by National Grid Electricity Transmission.
North Yorkshire Council granted outline planning permission for the HVDC converter station, located adjacent to Drax power station, and full planning permission for the section of onshore cable in North Yorkshire in August 2023.
In March 2024, government regulator Ofgem provisionally approved the expenditure for EGL2. Ofgem confirmed its final approval on the costs for EGL2 in August 2024, allowing construction of the subsea connection to commence.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September 2024 by representatives from SSEN Transmission and NGET, marking the start of construction on the electricity transmission project.
In July 2025, the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK) agreed to a €800m loan facility with National Grid Electricity Transmission to finance a portion of EGL2.
The precise offshore route will be finalised following the completion of surveys and stakeholder consultations, planned between 2023 and 2027. The cable installation is scheduled for 2028, with the project expected to be operational by 2029.
EGL2 Infrastructure
The Eastern Green Link 2 project is divided into three main construction sections- the Onshore Scottish Scheme, the Marine Scheme, and the Onshore English Scheme.
The Onshore Scottish Scheme involves approximately 1km of underground HVDC cable, stretching from the landfall at Sandford Bay to a converter station south of Peterhead. An additional 1km of buried HVDC cable will extend from the proposed converter station back to Sandford Bay. This section of the project concludes at Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS).
The Marine Scheme begins at Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) within Sandford Bay and consists of 436km of submarine HVDC cable. Approximately 150km of this will be laid in Scottish waters and 286km in English waters, reaching up to MHWS at Fraisthorpe Sands on the East Riding of Yorkshire coast.
The Onshore English Scheme starts at MLWS at Fraisthorpe Sands and includes approximately 67km of underground HVDC cable connecting to a proposed converter station in Drax within the Selby District. This converter station will then link to an existing substation within the Drax Power Station boundary via approximately 100m of high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable.
The EGL2 will enable electricity transfer between Scotland and England, and vice versa as needed.
It utilises HVDC technology to enable high-capacity electricity transmission more efficiently over long distances. However, the onshore transmission and distribution networks in both England and Scotland predominantly use HVAC. Converter stations located at each end of the transmission link will convert electricity between HVDC and HVAC.
Contractors Involved
Hitachi Energy and construction company BAM have been chosen as the main contractors for the Eastern Green Link 2 project.
Hitachi Energy is tasked with supplying two HVDC converter stations to connect the Scottish and English power grids. BAM will handle the engineering works and technology for these HVDC converter stations at Peterhead and Wren Hall.
In May 2023, Prysmian Group was selected as the preferred bidder for the cable connection. Prysmian’s responsibilities will include manufacturing, deliver and install around 1,000km of cable.
In July 2025, local firm David Smith Contractors completed civil engineering works for the HVDC converter station in Peterhead.
