Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 15, The joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SSEN Transmission has named Hitachi Energy as the preferred bidder to deliver high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations in Scotland and England for the Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) project.

EGL3 is the largest project in the joint venture’s portfolio. The proposed 2 GW, 525 kV HVDC link will connect Longside in Aberdeenshire to Walpole in Norfolk via a 680-kilometer subsea and underground cable. From its landfall point at Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire, the route will continue onshore for about 100 kilometers underground to the converter station in West Norfolk.

National Grid noted that the project will help ease congestion on the existing network, support the U.K.’s energy security, advance clean energy objectives, and reduce constraint costs, which arise when there is insufficient grid capacity to move power to where it is needed.

James Johnson, Deputy Project Director for Eastern Green Link 3 at SSEN Transmission, said: “Reaching this milestone for EGL3 marks another significant step towards delivering the network reinforcements needed to unlock Scotland’s renewable energy potential. Once complete, EGL3 will form a vital part of the UK’s future electricity backbone – enabling clean, homegrown energy to flow where and when it’s needed and supporting energy security in the UK.”

Two rounds of public consultation for EGL3 have been completed, with a planning application expected in 2026. Subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, construction is planned to begin in 2029, aiming for full operation by 2033.

Hitachi Energy, working with BAM, is also supplying converter stations for Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) under a contract signed in March 2024. Armand Pineda, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing & Sales for Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy, said: “We are honoured to be selected as the preferred bidder for the EGL3 project’s converter stations by SSEN Transmission and National Grid. This recognition reflects our long-standing partnerships with both major UK utilities and our shared commitment to delivering large-scale infrastructure that supports the grid of the future. Hitachi Energy is deeply committed to accelerating the global energy transition, and the UK stands as a flagship in this journey.”

The four Eastern Green Link projects are planned subsea electricity “superhighways” that will reinforce the U.K.’s transmission network, enabling greater flows of renewable energy from the North to high-demand areas in the South. They form part of the strategy to deliver 50 GW of offshore wind generation by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Construction on EGL1 began in February 2024 but was delayed by 16 months due to supply chain challenges. EGL2 construction commenced in September 2024. In May 2025, National Grid and SSEN Transmission began public consultation for Eastern Green Link 5 (EGL5), the fifth subsea electricity link planned between Scotland and England.