Exploring energy at the newly open Eastern Green Link 2 visitor hub
Keir Mather MP opens Eastern Green Link 2 Visitor Hub at Wren Hall, championing employability and educational opportunities for local students
The Visitor Hub will serve as a centre to explore the construction technology used for the project, with multiple activities designed to help visitors learn about energy
Local students and community groups now have a brand-new place to explore the world of electricity thanks to National Grid’s Eastern Link 2 (EGL2) project. On Friday, 7 November Keir Mather, MP for Selby, officially opened the Visitor Hub at Wren Hall Converter Station site near Selby, along with special guests from Selby College.
The Visitor Hub, part of the EGL2 project, developed jointly by National Grid and SSEN Transmission, will serve as an engaging centre for visitors to explore the technology used for the construction of the project, as well as the Wren Hall Converter Station.
The hub is full of hands-on activities designed to make learning about energy fun. Visitors can try on real safety gear, just like engineers wear on site, or use virtual reality (VR) headsets to explore the converter station and see how electricity flows. There’s also a LEGO model of the project route, pylon-building challenges, and a scale model of the station itself.
National Grid and SSEN Transmission hope the hub will inspire young people, show them how clean energy reaches two million homes, and highlight the careers available in science and engineering.
Amanda Gleadall, Head of Engineering, Selby College, said:
Visits like this are invaluable. They allow our students to see how the principles they learn in the classroom are applied on a national scale. Understanding projects like EGL2 helps them appreciate the complexity and importance of modern energy systems.
Neil Lyons, National Grid’s Deputy Project Director, added:
The EGL2 Visitor Hub is a testament to our commitment to community engagement and skills development. We look forward to welcoming local schools, colleges, and residents to explore the technology that will help deliver a cleaner, more resilient energy system for the UK.
Spotted throughout the hub is a small, beaked friend, Sparky the Wren, named by popular vote by the EGL2 project team. Visitors to the hub will be able to see more of this winged converter station mascot as the visitor hub team continues to develop materials linked to the curriculum.
The hub is now open for schools, colleges, and community groups, giving everyone a chance to explore, play, and discover how energy keeps the lights on across the region.
Alongside the visitor hub opening in Wren Hall, SSEN Transmission have today opened a matching visitor hub in Peterhead – creating spaces at both ends of the link for people to find out about the subsea electricity superhighway.
