en.Wedoany.com Reported - The UK National Grid has awarded initial overhead line upgrade contracts worth £1.2 billion to five supply chain partners, marking the launch of a new phase of its Electricity Transmission Partnership (ETP).

Balfour Beatty, M Group, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Murphy, and the Omexom Taylor Woodrow joint venture will carry out conductor replacement projects on over 1,000 kilometers of transmission lines in England and Wales. This technology increases transmission capacity by replacing existing lines with higher-specification materials, boosting grid capacity without the need to build new infrastructure.

The program is part of National Grid's broader strategy to strengthen the transmission network, enhance resilience, and support new connections amid growing electricity demand. The company plans to invest £31 billion in the transmission network by 2031 and upgrade approximately 3,500 kilometers of existing lines, equivalent to half of its entire network.

Through initiatives such as the ETP, the Great Grid Partnership, and the high voltage direct current framework, National Grid has established supply chain contracts worth over £28 billion in the UK power network.

Alice Delahunty, President of National Grid's Electricity Transmission business, stated that upgrading the existing network is one of the fastest and most effective ways to increase capacity and resilience, while new infrastructure is also crucial to meeting growing demand.

National Grid expects to recruit approximately 6,000 full-time employees in the UK by 2031, including 2,000 graduates and apprentices. This investment will also support employment and skills development across the broader supply chain.