£4.3bn green project will power two million homes
Britain has taken a giant step forward in its green plans with the go-ahead for a £4.3 billion low-carbon electricity superhighway which will power two million homes with renewable energy from windfarms.
Midlands energy expert Ron Fox was commenting after the energy regulator Ofgem approved the 300-mile subsea power cable which will carry renewable power for 300 miles from north-east Scotland to the north of England.
Work is expected to begin on the Eastern Green Link, the longest in the UK, later this year and it is expected to begin transmitting power by 2029.
It is the single largest investment in Great Britain’s electricity so far and is being developed by SSE together with the National Grid to ensure it can carry enough renewable electricity to meet Britain’s legally binding climate goals.
It is the first of 26 big energy grid projects which Ofgem plans to fast-track so more homes can benefit from the UK’s growing number of offshore windfarms.
A second project, spearheaded by Scottish Power and National Grid, is expected to be approved within weeks.
“Residents and firms will see how all these windfarms will help to provide more renewable energy for their homes and businesses,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science and Innovation Park.
“The project represents a big step towards the new government’s plan to create a net zero electricity system by 2030,” he added. “It will mean the biggest upgrade to the grid in decades with more jobs and eventually more secure energy supplies.”
Most of the Eastern Green Link cable project, which will run between Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and a new converter station at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire, will be under the seabed along Britain’s east coast.
Only about 44 miles of the cable will be onshore, but the regulator has approved plans to bury the cabling, which will connect to converter stations at either end to plug in to the grid.
But Ron admitted the plans have raised concerns in many rural communities about the impact the new transmission projects will have on the countryside.
He said much work needed to be done to allay people’s concerns and to ensure there was as little as possible effect on the landscape.
“When you think 14 years ago in 2010 just 7 per cent of our electricity came from renewable,” said Ron. “Now in 2024 it is nearly 50 per cent and halfway to net zero and this scheme will boost those figures further.”
For more details about using green energy call Ron on 0845 474 6641 or go to www.noreus.co.uk
Caption: Under the sea – A £4.3 billion low-carbon electricity superhighway along the seabed will power two million homes with renewable energy from windfarms.
