Other Initiatives

Why is the Western HVDC Link Needed?

The electricity transmission system betwen Scotland and England is already operating at maximum capacity. National Grid and SP Transmission have maximised the power carrying capacity of the two existing cross-border 400kV overhead lines but the amount of power that needs to be moved across this part of the system continues to grow and exceeds current capacity constraining renewable energy development. This represents a major bottleneck on the network, which has a significant impact on the connection of renewable energy in Scotland.

As a result of the UK's energy challenge, the Electricity Networks Strategy Group (ENSG), a cross-industry group including representatives from Ofgem, DECC, National Grid, SP Transmission and Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission, was set up.

The group considered how the GB electricity transmission network needed to develop to support renewable energy and climate change targets.

Increasing cross-border transmission capacity between England and Scotland was one of the areas considered by ENSG – they identified the Western HVDC Link as an effective way of providing additional transmission capacity and ensuring renewable energy could be moved from areas of significant resources to areas of demand in the south of the UK.

For more in-depth information please visit the Western HVDC Link website.