Spain’s Iberdrola Group, through its British subsidiary SP Energy Networks, has awarded contracts worth over GBP3bn (EUR3.5bn) for the development of the subsea electricity interconnector Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) between Scotland and England in the United Kingdom (Iberdrola press release, 30/03/2026).
“Under the signed agreement, Siemens Energy will build two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations, which will convert alternating current to direct current to transmit electricity more efficiently at 525 kV over long distances. The electricity will travel around 640 km, mostly under the sea, before being converted back for integration into the onshore grid”, according to the company’s press release. Germany’s Siemens Energy was named the preferred bidder for this scope in July 2025.
With a capacity of 2 GW, EGL4 will link Fife (Scotland) with Norfolk (England) and will be able to transport enough renewable energy to supply more than 1.5 million homes. The converter stations will be located in these two regions. The main construction phase will begin in 2028, with commissioning scheduled for 2033.
This project complements Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1), another 2 GW link whose construction began in 2025 and which will connect Torness (Scotland) with Hawthorne Pit (England). This project is expected to be completed in 2029.
In total, Iberdrola Group will invest EUR14bn by 2031 in transmission networks to increase the UK’s capacity to transfer electricity between regions. The UK is one of the Iberdrola Group’s main investment destinations: the company plans to invest EUR20bn by 2028 in the country.