Metlen starts construction of England-Scotland subsea power superhighway

Leading Greek energy group Metlen announced on Monday the start of construction work in Great Britain for an underwater electricity link that will enhance and secure the power grid of the United Kingdon.

The launch was marked by a special event in Torness, Scotland, attended by key stakeholders of the Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1), as well as representatives from the British government and local authorities.

The £2.5 billion (3 billion-euro) project, developed by the joint venture of SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission, has already received approval from Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator.

EGL1 will deliver clean energy to 2 million homes via a 190-kilometer subsea cable, connecting southeast Scotland to northeast England. While onshore construction is already underway, offshore installation is expected to begin this summer.

Athens-listed Metlen Energy & Metals, in partnership with GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions, has been selected to design and supply two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations, one at each end of the cable, in Torness and in Hawthorn Pit in England. These stations will enable more efficient long-distance energy transmission, enhancing the stability and reliability of the grid.

Specialized vessels will subsequently lay the cable along the seabed before connecting it to the power network.

Metlen’s contribution to the project is strategic, leveraging its expertise in infrastructure development and energy management to play a key role in the transition toward a more sustainable energy system, the Greek compamy said in a statement.

The Executive Director of M Power Projects at Metlen, Kostas Chorinos stated: “The groundbreaking is an important milestone and marks the start of Metlen’s journey to help deliver EGL1. We are proud to be part of a hugely significant project that will deliver national benefits, but we also want local communities to feel the benefits of the project and we are fully behind this. We will be investing millions in the local supply chain, our workforce will be volunteering for thousands of hours within local communities, and we willll be creating dozens of jobs for local people.”

Source: pagenews.gr