A $2.5 billion funding package has been awarded for the development of Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1), a 196km subsea and underground cable connecting Scotland to northern England. This critical energy project will transport 2 gigawatts of wind-generated electricity from Torness, East Lothian, to Hawthorn Pit, County Durham, bolstering the UK’s energy security and advancing green energy goals.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) identified EGL1 as essential to achieving the Clean Power 2030 ambition. By alleviating grid constraints, the project is projected to save over $1.09 billion annually by reducing wind generation shutdowns and lowering consumer energy bills.

Developed by SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission, EGL1 is part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, designed to fast-track vital energy projects. ASTI has already streamlined 26 projects, worth an estimated $25 billion, cutting approval timelines by up to two years.

The project also promises $9.9 million in community benefits for host regions and supports thousands of future jobs as the UK transitions to a net-zero energy system. Construction on EGL1 is set to play a pivotal role in delivering the government’s target of 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Source: renewableenergymagazine.com