The main piling work for our new Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) converter station and substation in County Durham is now complete.
This is an important milestone for the project, as the deep foundations are now in place for key buildings and electrical equipment at both sites.
The works have been delivered with our principal contractors Metlen Energy & Metals (Metlen), which is building the Murton Converter Station, and Murphy, which is delivering the new Hawthorn Pit Substation and associated connection works.
What is piling?
Piling is a way of creating strong foundations for large buildings and heavy equipment.
Piles are long columns made from steel or concrete which are installed deep into the ground to create a stable base.
Concrete foundations are then built on top of the piles. Together, these will support the buildings and equipment at the converter station and substation.
Specialist machinery installing a pile at our Hawthorn Pit Substation site.
What will the converter station and substation do?
The converter station and substation have different but connected roles.
Electricity will travel through EGL1 as direct current (DC). DC is an efficient way to carry large amounts of electricity over long distances.
At Murton Converter Station, the electricity will be converted from DC to alternating current (AC), the type of electricity used by the wider electricity network.
Hawthorn Pit Substation will help manage the flow of electricity onto the wider network. This will transport the electricity to homes and businesses across the country.
Why is this milestone important?
The converter station and substation need strong and stable foundations to support their buildings and electrical equipment.
With the main piling work now complete, both sites are moving into the next phase of construction.
At our Murton Converter Station, steel frames are beginning to form the structure of the new buildings. Work is also continuing on concrete foundations and preparations for the underground cables.
At Hawthorn Pit Substation, teams are completing the foundations for the new buildings. Once these are finished, construction can begin before the electrical equipment is installed.
Steel piles installed at our Hawthorn Pit Substation site.
Thank you to our local communities
Nik Davies, Project Director for EGL1, said:
“The completion of the main piling works is an important milestone for EGL1 and is the result of a great deal of work by our teams at both sites.
Seeing the converter station and substation start to take shape is an exciting step forward for the project. It brings us closer to connecting secure, cleaner, and more affordable energy to the network.
I would like to thank local communities for their continued patience and support while this essential work was carried out. As construction progresses, we will continue to keep communities informed about upcoming activities and what they can expect over the months ahead.”
About Eastern Green Link 1
Eastern Green Link 1 is a 196 km high-voltage electricity link.
It will run between the Torness area in East Lothian and Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, with most of the route beneath the North Sea.
EGL1 will help carry renewable energy and strengthen the network between Scotland and England. When complete, it will be able to carry enough electricity for around two million homes.
For questions or further information, contact the EGL1 Community Relations Team:
Email: contact@easterngreenlink1.co.uk
Freephone: 0808 196 8405, between 9am and 5pm on weekdays