Executive Summary

• The National Grid has opened the consultation process for Eastern Green Link 5 (EGL5), which aims to provide electricity to power around two million homes and businesses across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands
• The plans for EGL5 include a proposed 585 km subsea HVDC cable from Scotland to Anderby Creek, landing site for both Eastern Green Link 3 and 4, as well as a single onshore cable route north of the village of Huttoft
• The consultation period ends on 24 July

The National Grid is inviting local communities to review and comment on the latest proposals for the Eastern Green Link 5 (EGL5) project, which aims to provide enough electricity to power around two million homes and businesses across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.

The update includes a proposed 585 km subsea high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable from Scotland to Anderby Creek in Lincolnshire, selected to reduce interaction with marine infrastructure and offshore wind developments, as well as a single onshore cable route north of the Lincolnshire village of Huttoft, up to 8 km in length.

Other updates include a preferred location for the converter station north-east of Bilsby, as well as up to 1 km of additional underground cable to connect the converter station to infrastructure, proposed as part of the Grimsby to Walpole project.

The consultation is part of The Great Grid Upgrade programme, cited as the biggest overhaul of the UK electricity network in generations. EGL5 is seen as an important reinforcement by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to ensure the network can carry electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed as demand grows.

While EGL5 is still at the proposal stage, the other four Eastern Green Link projects are now under development. EGL3 and EGL4, whose landing sites are both in Anderby Creek, are projected to be completed by 2033 and 2034 respectively. In March, it was announced that Siemens Energy would be contracted to provide HDVC converter stations for EGL4, while Prysmian was contracted for subsea and underground electricity cables.

“Eastern Green Link 5 will support the delivery of the electricity infrastructure needed for a secure and more independent energy system,” said Stephen Mathers, project director for National Grid. “As electricity demand is set to grow significantly, the project will help make the most of Britain’s offshore wind and reduce reliance on imported energy.

“Expanding the grid is essential to ensure clean energy can be transported efficiently to communities and businesses in Lincolnshire and across the wider East Midlands,” Mathers added.

The consultation for EGL5 ends on 24 July.