Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 25, The UK National Grid has finalized the award of its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) civil works supply chain framework, confirming agreements worth £12 billion (around €13.9 billion). This represents the third and final stage of the £59 billion supply chain framework launched to secure essential equipment and partnerships for the Great Grid Upgrade.

The HVDC framework, initiated in 2023, is designed to establish long-term contractual relationships and support delivery of large-scale energy infrastructure. In this last phase, six HVDC converter civil works suppliers secured positions under Lot 1, with contracts totalling approximately £9.07 billion. The selected companies include Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Taylor Woodrow.

Under Lot 2, three suppliers have been awarded HVDC onshore cable civil works agreements valued at about £3.7 billion. The companies selected are Balfour Beatty, Murphy and VolkerFitzpatrick. Together, the two frameworks cover a five-year period with an option for a three-year extension.

The contracts will support confirmed projects such as Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4), developed with SP Energy Networks, and LionLink, in partnership with TenneT. The National Grid has also named preferred bidders for Sea Link and EGL4 through its HVDC converter framework. The first tender under the new HVDC civil works framework will soon begin, covering shared southern works required for Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) and EGL4.

Zac Richardson, Chief Engineer and Offshore Delivery Director of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, commented: “This marks a major step forward in delivering the UK’s future energy network. This investment not only underpins the transition to a more secure, independent and low-carbon energy future, but will also support tens of thousands of UK jobs, boost regional supply chains and strengthen our construction and engineering sectors.”

He added: “By building strategic, long-term partnerships with leading UK-based contractors, we’re ensuring the UK is ready to meet the growing demand for electricity with a resilient and modern network.”

The HVDC civil works framework is expected to play a crucial role in expanding the UK’s transmission capacity, enabling greater integration of renewable energy and supporting long-term energy transition goals. With strategic partnerships now in place, the framework provides a foundation for future delivery of complex infrastructure projects, positioning the National Grid to meet increasing demand in a reliable and sustainable way.