A significant milestone has been reached in the UK's journey towards decarbonising its energy infrastructure. Representatives from SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) have officially broken ground on the East Coast Transmission Link (ECTL), marking the start of main construction.

The ECTL is the UK's largest electricity transmission project, spanning over 500 kilometers and featuring the longest HVDC subsea cable in the UK at 436 kilometers. When completed, the project will provide enough green electricity to power around two million homes.

During the construction phase, the project will support hundreds of skilled jobs and thousands more across the wider economy through supply chain activity.

Gregor Alexander, Chair of the SSEN Transmission Board, joined by representatives from NGET, Prysmian (cable manufacturer and installer), Hitachi Energy and BAM (convertor station suppliers), and Ofgem (industry regulator), celebrated the groundbreaking in Peterhead.

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The commencement of construction follows Ofgem's final approval of the project's associated costs, paving the way for this crucial infrastructure development.

Commenting at the ceremony, the Chair of SSEN Transmission’s Board, Gregor Alexander, said: "Today’s groundbreaking is a landmark day in this nationally critical infrastructure project, and testament to a huge collective effort from the project teams at SSEN Transmission and NGET who have worked tirelessly to get us to a stage where construction work can begin.

"EGL2 will play a major role in bolstering energy security and contributing to net zero targets, but it will also generate jobs and provide a legacy to local communities here in the north-east of Scotland, where our teams are already supporting local environmental initiatives.

"We are committed to working alongside the local community throughout the lifetime of the project and beyond, as we aim to be a positive force in the communities we operate."

Akshay Kaul, Ofgem Director General for Infrastructure Group, said: "Today is a historic occasion. Not only is construction starting on EGL2, Britain’s biggest ever electricity transmission project, but we’re also standing here two years earlier than we might have been thanks to Ofgem’s fast track new process which cuts red tape to get consumers across the country connected to renewable energy more quickly.

"Harnessing homegrown clean energy will help build a secure energy future for Britain, and projects like EGL2 are pivotal in our move towards that. The part Scotland plays in achieving that goal cannot be overstated, and the long-term gains for Scottish billpayers, in terms of secure, more affordable, and cleaner power will be reaped for generations to come."