Image: 24shore/ReelFrame
National Grid has taken a major step toward strengthening the UK’s energy infrastructure, awarding two key portions of a £59 billion high-voltage direct current (HVDC) supply chain framework. This initiative is designed to enhance the integration of clean energy sources and ensure long-term access to critical equipment for future projects.
The framework, launched in 2023, aims to establish strategic contractual relationships with global suppliers. It covers both confirmed and anticipated projects, providing stability and efficiency in securing essential HVDC components.
Six companies have secured positions in the HVDC cable supply framework, amounting to approximately £21.3 billion. These include Hellenic & Jan De Nul Consortium, LS Cable & System, NKT Cables, Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric, and Taihan Cable & Solution. Meanwhile, four suppliers have been awarded places in the HVDC converter systems framework, valued at around £24.6 billion. These companies are GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, and Siemens Energy.
The contracts are initially set for a five-year period, with the option to extend for an additional three years.
Strategic Investment in Grid Infrastructure
Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, emphasized the significance of this milestone in the UK’s energy transition. “This is another exciting milestone in delivering the greatest overhaul of the grid in a generation – The Great Grid Upgrade,” he said. Trowell highlighted the framework’s role in leveraging National Grid’s scale to drive efficiencies, support technological innovation, and contribute to economic growth.
Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, reinforced the company’s commitment to enhancing energy security. “National Grid is already the largest operator of subsea power cables in the world, the majority of which we delivered in the last six years,” he said. He pointed to groundbreaking projects like Viking Link and LionLink as examples of the ambitious vision required to ensure reliable, innovative, and timely energy infrastructure.
Industry Leaders Weigh In
The awarded suppliers are set to support projects such as Eastern Green Link 4, Sealink, and LionLink, among others. These large-scale interconnections are vital for the UK’s offshore wind and renewable energy ambitions.
Neil Beardsmore, Executive Global Commercial Leader for HVDC at GE Vernova, underscored the role of electrification in achieving net-zero goals. “Electrification is the cornerstone of a net-zero future, and at GE Vernova, we are committed to accelerating this transition by delivering integrated solutions that enable large-scale electrification,” he said.
Kostas Savvakis, General Manager of Hellenic Cables, echoed this sentiment, stating that the agreement strengthens the company’s commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition. “We are proud to be part of this critical framework, providing world-class HVDC cable solutions,” he noted.
Peter Bouwhuis, CEO of 24shore Cables, a company specializing in HV cable transport solutions, acknowledged the broader momentum behind the grid upgrades. “It is good to see that on many fronts the grid upgrades are being effectuated. Our ReelFrame is ready for this as well and will deliver an efficient and flexible transport solution to it,” he stated.
Additionally, Wouter Vermeersch, Director of Subsea Cables at Jan De Nul, emphasized the company’s role in strategic HVDC interconnections. “This agreement confirms our position as World Builders of the energy transition through providing vital power cable links,” he said.
With contracts now in place, suppliers are expected to begin supporting early-stage projects that will play a critical role in ensuring a stable, efficient, and scalable energy grid for the UK.
Source: renews
