The UK’s National Grid has awarded two parts of a £59 bn high voltage direct current (HVDC) supply chain framework to deliver the required works and equipment needed for key energy projects across the country.
Launched in 2023, the HVDC supply chain framework aims to establish long-term, strategic, contractual relationships and secure the critical equipment needed for current and future projects.
The announcement sees six HVDC cable suppliers being awarded positions on the Framework Agreement totalling approximately £21.3 bn and four suppliers being awarded places on the HVDC Converter Framework, totalling approximately £24.6 bn. Both Frameworks cover both confirmed and anticipated projects.
The successful HVDC cable suppliers are Hellenic & Jan De Nul Consortium, LS Cable & System, NKT Cables, Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric and Taihan Cable & Solution. The HVDC converter systems Framework has been awarded to GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Electric and Siemens Energy. Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years.
Carl Trowell, president of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, said: “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, said: “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 boost energy security with confidence.”
Suppliers on the framework will support the delivery of early projects including Eastern Green Link 4, Sealink, Lionlink and other projects of a similar size and nature. Hauke Jürgensen, senior VP Grid Solutions at Siemens Energy, said: “The growing global demand for transmission capacity is putting increasing pressure on supply chains. This framework agreement is a good step towards creating more planning security.”
