Prysmian Group has recently been awarded its largest contract amounting to $2.7 billion for the Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) project. This next initiative will represent a major advance in Britain’s electricity transmission capacity. The nearly completed project will bring connectivity from Fife in Scotland to Norfolk in England. It will be able to transmit up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, enough to power more than 1.5 million homes.
EGL4 is another important step in the United Kingdom’s move away from polluting fossil fuels to cleaner, more secure forms of energy. It aims to deliver important connections that support the generation of affordable energy from renewable resources, aligning with national objectives to address climate change. The project is a collaborative venture including National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks as a project joint venture.
Construction on EGL4 won’t start until 2029. This anticipated start date is subject to obtaining the necessary approval from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. This ambitious program includes the installation of over 640 kilometers of high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable. Of these, 530 kilometers will be installed under the sea, while more than 116 kilometers will be laid on the ground. With the completion of EGL4 still several years away, developers intend to submit planning applications in both Scotland and England by 2026.
“Eastern Green Link 4 is a critical part of the significant reinforcement needed along the east coast to support Britain’s future energy system. By investing in high-capacity HVDC infrastructure, we can move large volumes of clean electricity efficiently and at scale.” – James Goode
Beyond supporting new technologies, the EGL4 project is incredibly important for bettering today’s existing electricity grid. It plays an important role in helping to build on growing renewable energy capacity across the UK. This catalyst development will free up much-needed capacity within the grid. Importantly, it will enable much more renewable energy generation to come online while lowering consumer constraint costs.
“The project will help unlock capacity across the UK’s electricity grid, opening up space for more renewable energy to connect in and helping to reduce constraint costs for consumers.” – Iain Adams
With EGL4 expected for completion in 2033, the initiative represents a long-term commitment to modernizing Britain’s energy infrastructure. This project strongly emphasizes traditional, high-capacity connections up and down the busy east coast. It’s proof of the UK’s seriousness about leading the world to their climate goals, while providing stable power for their people.