£3bn supply chain contracts mark major progress on UK’s next electricity “superhighway”

Two major supply chain contracts worth around £3bn have been awarded on the Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) project—marking a significant step forward in the UK’s plans to strengthen its electricity transmission network and accelerate the flow of renewable energy.

Siemens Energy has secured the contract to deliver high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations, while Prysmian has been awarded an earlier £2bn package for the subsea and underground cable systems.

A key link in the UK’s energy infrastructure

EGL4 forms part of a wider programme of subsea transmission projects along the UK’s east coast, being developed by National Grid and SSEN Transmission.

The link will:

• Transfer up to 2GW of electricity

• Run approximately 640km under the North Sea

• Connect Fife (Scotland) to West Norfolk (England)

The project is designed to move large volumes of renewable energy—particularly offshore wind—from Scotland to high-demand areas in England, helping reduce grid congestion and improve energy security.

Construction timeline

Subject to planning approval, the project is expected to:

• Start main construction: 2028

• Complete: 2033

EGL4 sits alongside several other major links currently in development or construction, forming a long-term upgrade of the UK’s transmission infrastructure.

What this means for the construction market

While these initial awards focus on specialist electrical infrastructure, they signal the start of a much wider pipeline of work 👇

👉 Major civils packages will follow (converter stations, landfall works, infrastructure)

👉 Marine, cable installation and logistics opportunities will expand

👉 Regional supply chains will be heavily engaged

Large-scale infrastructure schemes like this typically unlock:

• Groundworks and enabling works

• Concrete and structural packages

• M&E and specialist installation

• Access, logistics and support services

With construction still a few years out, the market now has early visibility to position for future packages.

A growing pipeline of energy infrastructure

Projects like EGL4 highlight the scale of investment being committed to the UK’s energy transition.

As grid capacity becomes a critical constraint to renewable expansion, similar large-scale transmission projects are expected to continue—creating sustained opportunities across the construction and engineering supply chain.