**UK**: National Grid has awarded two major contracts valued at £45.9 billion to enhance the UK’s energy infrastructure. The framework includes six suppliers for HVDC cables and four for converter systems, aimed at modernising the grid and ensuring energy security for the future.
British utility company National Grid has recently awarded two significant contracts as part of its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) supply chain framework, aimed at enhancing energy infrastructure across the UK. The total value of these contracts is approximately £45.9 billion ($59.4 billion), and they are designed to supply essential works and equipment for a range of critical energy projects.
In a detailed announcement, National Grid outlined that six HVDC cable suppliers have been allocated positions on the Framework Agreement, collectively worth around £21.3 billion ($27.6 billion). Meanwhile, four suppliers have been selected for the HVDC Converter Framework, which holds a total value of approximately £24.6 billion ($31.8 billion). The complete HVDC supply chain framework, which was first introduced in 2023, is valued at an impressive £59 billion ($76.3 billion). Its purpose is to establish long-term, strategic contractual relationships that will ensure the availability of crucial equipment for both confirmed and anticipated energy projects.
The successful suppliers for the HVDC cable segment include the Hellenic & Jan De Nul Consortium, LS Cable & System, NKT Cables, Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric, and Taihan Cable & Solution. For the HVDC converter systems, contracts have been granted to GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Electric, and Siemens Energy. The contracts are set for a duration of five years, with the potential for extension by an additional three years.
Carl Trowell, president of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, remarked, “This is another exciting milestone in delivering the greatest overhaul of the grid in a generation – The Great Grid Upgrade. We are committed to building the infrastructure that will enable our country’s current and future energy needs, at pace. This framework allows us to harness National Grid’s scale to access global supply chains, drive efficiencies, foster innovative technologies, and contribute to the UK’s economic prosperity.”
Ben Wilson, president of National Grid Ventures, added: “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. World record-breaking sites like Viking Link and pioneering projects like LionLink need an ambitious approach for every aspect of their delivery, including with our suppliers. Today’s announcement is an important step which strengthens our supply chain. It ensures we can develop and deliver innovative international projects in a timely manner and boosts energy security with confidence.”
The suppliers included in this framework will assist in the execution of early projects such as Eastern Green Link 4, Sealink, Lionlink, and additional initiatives of comparable scale. This strategic move aligns with National Grid’s goals to modernise and secure the UK’s energy infrastructure, ultimately aiming to better meet both current and future energy demands.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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