Bam Wins Early Works Role on Eastern Green Link 3

Bam has secured an early contractor involvement (ECI) contract from SSEN Transmission for civil engineering works on the northern converter station for the proposed Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) project near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The agreement covers design and constructability support for the converter station and associated civil works at the Scottish site.

Data provider Glenigan values the EGL3 project at £2.5 billion. A follow-on contract covering detailed design and construction of buildings, access roads, drainage, and other infrastructure needed to support the installation of high-voltage direct current equipment is due to be awarded in 2027.

Project Specifications and Route

EGL3 is being developed as a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission. The proposed 2GW, 525kV HVDC link would run approximately 680km between Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and Norfolk using onshore and subsea cables. The developers said it would be the UK's largest electricity transmission project. The southern terminal is planned at Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire, connecting to a new 121km link between Grimsby and Walpole, Norfolk.

The project forms part of the Eastern Green Links programme of submarine HVDC cables from the east coast of Scotland to north-east England and National Grid's Great Grid Upgrade. In December 2025, Ofgem approved two subsea grid connections linking Scottish windfarms to southern England: EGL3 from Peterhead and EGL4 from Westfield, Fife. Contracts for both cables were signed in early 2026.

Contractor Statements and Programme Context

James Johnson, SSEN Transmission joint venture programme director and EGL3 deputy project director, said: "Signing this contract with Bam is another important milestone for EGL3 as we continue to secure the supply chain needed to deliver this nationally significant infrastructure project. The northern converter station is a critical component of the project, and the safe, efficient and timely installation of the civils works will be central to enabling the subsequent installation of the HVDC technology."

Adrian Collins, Bam UK & Ireland director, said the contractor would continue its involvement in the Eastern Green Link programme through the ECI agreement for the Peterhead converter station. Bam was appointed in 2025 to deliver civils on Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) in partnership with Hitachi Energy, and the company's teams are already delivering converter stations at Wren Hall and Peterhead on that project. EGL2 is a £4.3 billion, 525kV, 2GW HVDC subsea transmission cable from Peterhead to Drax, with a targeted operational date of 2029.

Planning and Construction Timeline

The Scottish converter station at the proposed Netherton Hub has already received planning in principle. Two converter station hubs are to be built at the Netherton site for both EGL2 and EGL3 schemes. A planning application for the English section of EGL3 is expected to be submitted later this year following public consultation.

Subject to planning approval, construction is scheduled to start in 2028, with the transmission link expected to be energised in 2033. EGL3 and EGL4 could begin operations in 2034. If approved, EGL3 will increase electricity transmission capacity between Scotland and England, allowing renewable electricity generated in Scotland and offshore to be transported south. SSEN Transmission said the scheme would help reduce transmission constraints and improve network capacity.