The final onshore and offshore planning consents have been granted for Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), an offshore cable that will be the longest high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable in the UK.
Once complete, EGL2 will run from a new converter station and landfall point at Sandford Bay, Peterhead, under the North Sea, to a landfall point at Fraisthorpe, on the East Yorkshire coast. Once onshore in England, it will run underground to a new converter station next to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN) and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) are delivering the new link as a joint venture and permissions were granted by local planning authorities, the Marine Management Organisation in England and Marine Scotland in Scotland.
Construction is expected to begin in 2024, with a targeted operational date of 2029.
The link still has to be granted regulatory approval by Ofgem .
Planning Permission in Principle was granted by Aberdeenshire Council on 20 May 2022 for the HVDC converter station and on 3 February 2023 for a pylon compound joining the high-voltage underground cable to the overhead line.
Marine licences were granted by the Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland on 28 July and 5 May 2023, respectively, for EGL2’s 436km subsea cable.
Full planning permission was granted by East Riding of Yorkshire Council on 3 May 2023for the majority of project’s onshore underground cable. The planning application was submitted by National Grid Electricity Transmission.
Outline planning permission for the HVDC converter station, located adjacent to Drax power station, and full planning permission for the section of onshore cable in North Yorkshire, were granted by North Yorkshire Council on 11 August.
Sarah Sale, EGL2 Deputy Project Director, said: “We are delighted that our plans for the onshore and offshore elements of our project have been approved by all local planning authorities and marine licencing organisations. What was particularly pleasing to hear, was the support for the project and its purpose from a number of those planning authorities.” She added, “We will continue to work with the local community and keep them updated as the project develops, and moves into construction, and would like to thank them in advance for hosting such an important project.”