National Grid has completed the award of its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) civil works supply chain framework, with £12bn worth of agreements confirmed.

HVDC is a key enabler for a carbon-neutral energy systems, presenting an efficient method of transmitting large amounts of electricity over long distances, making integration of renewables and interconnecting grids more practical.

The announcement marks the third and final stage of the £59bn supply chain framework awards supporting the energy infrastructure needed to support the Great Grid Upgrade and the energy transition.

Zac Richardson, chief engineer and offshore delivery director of strategic infrastructure at National Grid, said: “This marks a major step forward in delivering the UK’s future energy network. This investment not only underpins the transition to a more secure, independent and low-carbon energy future, but will also support tens of thousands of UK jobs, boost regional supply chains and strengthen our construction and engineering sectors.”

A total of six HVDC converter civil works suppliers have been awarded positions on Lot 1 of the Framework Agreement totalling approximately £9.07bn. In addition, three HVDC onshore cable civil works suppliers being awarded places on Lot 2 of the Framework, worth an estimated £3.7bn. The successful HVDC converter suppliers are Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Taylor Woodrow. The HVDC onshore cable civils Framework has been awarded to Balfour Beatty, Murphy, and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years. Both Frameworks cover confirmed and anticipated projects, including Eastern Green Link 4, in partnership with SP Energy Networks and LionLink in partnership with TenneT.

One of the aims of the HVDC frameworks was to strengthen and broaden the supply chain, encouraging new market entrants increase manufacturing capacity, such as Sumitomo, that is building a new HVDC cable manufacturing facility in the UK for the first time in over 20 years.

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