Western Link 2 / Cysylltiad Gorllewinol 2

About Western Link 2

Western Link 2 is a joint proposal between National Grid and SP Energy Networks for a new High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore connection between Scotland and Wales. The project will reinforce the transmission network with new underground cables to connect renewable offshore wind energy generated in Scottish waters to homes and businesses across Wales and beyond. Reinforcement is important so we can continue to deliver a reliable flow of electricity to homes, businesses and our public services.

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Welsh version

Our proposals

Western Link 2 will transport clean energy from offshore sources along Scotland’s western coast to a proposed converter station in Ayrshire, being brought forward by SP Energy Networks.

From there, National Grid plans to develop a new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link to carry this energy to the Gwynedd coastline in North Wales. The proposed route will pass through Scottish, Northern Irish, Isle of Man and Welsh waters.

In North Wales, we are also developing proposals to connect the link to the national electricity network. This would include a landfall point on the Gwynedd coast, an underground cable, and a new converter station near the existing Pentir Substation.

This is an indicative map of the overall proposals and does not reflect the exact cable route.

What happens next

Our project is in its early design stage.

We will consult and work with local residents, their representatives and statutory stakeholders – such as local authorities - throughout all stages of the planning process. We will carry out a non-statutory consultation on our emerging proposals in 2026.

Our public consultations are designed to introduce our proposals to local communities and gain feedback. Feedback plays an important part in the development of our proposals and helps to shape the project before we submit our planning application to Cyngor Gwynedd.

Our aim is to mitigate the impacts where we can and maximise local benefits for communities.

You may also see us carrying out some early surveying works in the area. This is to understand more about the land and the local environment as we are designing our project.

We will be engaging with landowners and occupiers to seek access to undertake surveys.

The survey results and technical assessments will be used to inform our proposals, and we will be consulting on our emerging proposals in 2026.

Should you have any questions regarding our survey work, please do get in touch.

The Great Grid Upgrade in Wales

Western Link 2 is part of The Great Grid Upgrade.

The Great Grid Upgrade is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations. Our infrastructure projects across England and Wales are helping to connect cleaner, home-grown energy from more affordable sources to your homes and businesses.

The UK’s electricity grid was originally built to connect electricity generated in power stations from fossil fuels, such as coal from the North and Midlands of England and South Wales.

As the UK moves away from fossil fuels and increases clean energy generation, we’ll all be using more electricity than ever before. Demand for electricity is expected to increase by 50% by 2035 and double by 2050, as we decarbonise the energy that’s used for things like heating and transport.

Transitioning to secure, affordable and cleaner energy sources, means we need to build new infrastructure, as well as upgrading the existing grid, to bring this power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed in homes and businesses.