en.Wedoany.com Reported - The UK National Grid has launched the next phase of its Electricity Transmission Partnership (ETP), appointing Balfour Beatty, M Group, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Murphy, and OTW to upgrade major overhead lines (OHL) in England and Wales. The initial contract package is valued at £1.2 billion and covers over 1,000 kilometers of lines, delivered through a partnership model designed to transform how National Grid collaborates with the supply chain.

Reconductoring involves replacing existing conductors with modern, high-capacity materials, enabling lines to carry more electricity, maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, and reducing the need for new lines. This overhead line phase builds on the first phase of the ETP, announced last year and focused on substations, adopting a long-term collaborative approach that rewards excellent performance and supports investment in skills and workforce development.

By planning further ahead and applying common standards and innovation, National Grid and its partners aim to improve safety and efficiency while delivering better long-term value for consumers.

Liam Corr, Managing Director of Murphy Energy, stated that following the company's appointment as an ETP substation framework contractor last year, it has now been appointed as an ETP overhead line framework contractor. As the company undertakes the task of enhancing overhead line capacity and upgrading UK infrastructure, it is investing in state-of-the-art training facilities to support this effort and looks forward to continuing collaboration within the partnership to successfully deliver this critical infrastructure.

The ETP runs alongside other National Grid supply chain initiatives, including the Great Grid Partnership (GGP) and its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) supply chain framework. Together, these initiatives underpin contracts that will bring over £28 billion in planned investment to the UK grid.

National Grid expects to employ approximately 6,000 full-time staff in the UK by 2031, including 2,000 graduates and apprentices, and these investments will also support employment and growth in the wider supply chain. To meet the demand for skilled workers, Omexom opened a multidisciplinary training center in Yorkshire in 2023; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure opened its first overhead line training center in Staffordshire in 2024; and Murphy plans to open new high-voltage overhead line, cable installation, and substation training facilities in Nottinghamshire next year.

This latest ETP program forms a core element of National Grid's RIIO-T3 plan, which proposes a £31 billion investment in the transmission network by 2031. During this period, the company intends to upgrade approximately 3,500 kilometers of existing transmission lines, about half of its network, to support the UK's growing electricity demand.

These ambitions build on progress made during RIIO-T2, when National Grid added over 16 gigawatts of new transmission capacity through upgrades and grid enhancement technologies, including 3.5 gigawatts added through reconductoring in the 2024/25 period alone.

Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid's Electricity Transmission division, stated that upgrading the existing network is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to increase capacity and enhance resilience, while building new infrastructure to meet demand also plays a vital role. Through the Electricity Transmission Partnership, the company is supporting skilled jobs, strengthening the UK supply chain, and contributing to long-term economic growth while making critical network investments.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks stated that building and upgrading the grid is creating jobs and investment across the country while helping to build an energy system fit for the future. Since this government took office, over £100 billion in clean energy investments have been announced.

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