Frequently asked questions
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about EGL 3 and EGL 4.
We hope they answer your questions, and we will continue to update them as our proposals develop. If your question is not listed below, please get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected] or bycalling 0800 298 0405.
About the projects
EGL 3 and EGL 4 are two proposed new primarily offshore high voltage electricity links, with associated onshore infrastructure, between Scotland and England.
The key onshore and offshore elements of our proposals in England which are included for consultation are:
- Offshore high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. In English waters, EGL 3's cable would be approximately 436 km long and EGL 4's would be approximately 425 km
- Transition joint bays to connect our offshore and onshore HVDC cables, located onshore near to our proposed cables landfall at Anderby Creek on the Lincolnshire coastline
- Underground HVDC cables running together for approximately 100 km from the joint landfall at Anderby Creek to the EGL 3 and EGL 4 converter stations in the Walpole area, West Norfolk
- Two converter stations in the Walpole area with one converter station for EGL 3 and one for EGL 4
- One substation in the Walpole area, called Walpole B, where both EGL 3 and EGL 4’s Walpole converter stations would connect to and then onto the electricity transmission network (this substation is also jointly proposed as part of NGET's Grimsby to Walpole project)
- Onshore underground high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables that would connect the converter stations into the substation
- Supplementary works to the existing 400 kV overhead line to enable a connection with the new Walpole substation.
You can read more about our proposals here.
Demand for electricity is forecast to increase and more electricity is being generated offshore. We need to make sure our grid has the capacity for the increased amount of power that will flow between Scotland and England.
Following guidance from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we have identified that the existing transmission network (made up of pylons (technically called ‘towers’), overhead lines and underground cables) between Scotland, the Midlands and the South of England does not currently have the capacity to reliably transport this increasing energy.
EGL 3 and EGL 4 would help provide the increased capacity between Scotland and the Midlands and South of England. They would carry up to 2 GW of electricity each, together enough for four million homes.
Since the close of our stage 1 consultation, we have reviewed and carefully considered the feedback we received alongside the outcome of technical and environmental studies as we have developed our more detailed proposals. This has been used to inform the development of the locations of our proposed infrastructure and has resulted in several changes to our proposals.
More information on the feedback we received to our previous consultations and our responses to feedback received can be found in our Non-statutory consultation feedback report, which is available from the Document library.
Since the close of our stage 1 consultation in Spring and Summer 2024, we have reviewed and carefully considered the feedback we received alongside the outcome of technical and environmental studies.
This has been used to inform the development of our proposals and has resulted in several changes to our proposals.
We are now seeking your feedback on our updated proposals, including where the new infrastructure could be built and what you would like us to consider as we further develop our proposals.
We are seeking your views on our updated proposals as part of a stage 2 consultation. This is a statutory consultation, which means that it is being carried out in line with the formal requirements of the Planning Act 2008. This consultation opened at 12pm noon Monday 13 May and will close 11:59pm Tuesday 23 June 2025.
Consultation is an important part of the development consent order (DCO) process as it enables everyone to comment on the proposals. All feedback we receive as part of this latest consultation will be carefully considered alongside the results of technical assessments and environmental surveys, as we finalise our proposals before submitting our DCO application.
If our DCO application is accepted, the Planning Inspectorate will appoint what is called an ‘Examining Authority’ to independently review and examine our application, including encouraging the submission of views from communities and other interested parties.
The Examining Authority will then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will decide whether to grant consent for a DCO. To find out more about the DCO process, please see the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Large parts of the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coastlines, including The Wash and North Norfolk Coast National Landscape, are environmentally sensitive and protected. There are also many areas of population along the coastline, such as Skegness. These factors make routing subsea cables directly to the Walpole area very challenging.
The Anderby Creek area on the Lincolnshire coastline has been determined to be the most feasible location for our landfall. Past projects, including National Grid Venture’s Viking interconnector project, have successfully made landfall in this area. An Anderby Creek landfall, means that around 100 km of underground HVDC cable is required between the Lincolnshire coastline and the Walpole area.
If EGL 3 and EGL 4 were connected to the existing network north of Walpole like EGL 5, additional network reinforcement would be required to carry the power further South to where the demand for energy is. Connecting EGL 3 and EGL 4 to the existing network in Walpole meets the needs case for transmission upgrade as outlined by NESO in the most cost effective, efficient and environmentally sensitive way.
Each network upgrade must be evaluated individually, considering factors like distance, how much power it needs to carry, delivery times, and costs. Using offshore HVDC cables is often the best option when transporting power over long distances, as EGL 3 and 4 must do.
Although onshore overhead lines were considered for EGL 3 and EGL 4, an offshore solution from Scotland is more efficient, coordinated, economical, and environmentally friendly.
Resolving the capacity problems in the network using just underground cables would result in three times more underground cables being needed when compared to overhead lines for Grimsby to Walpole. The greater distance required between underground cables means much more land would have to be disrupted compared to using overhead lines.
To read more about Grimsby to Walpole visit their website here.
EGL 3 and EGL 4 are both in an early stage of design, however, we will thoroughly consider the environmental impact of the projects before we submit our application for a development consent order.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been undertaken, and this forms a core part of the planning process, assessing the potential effects on biodiversity, landscape, air quality, water resources, and cultural heritage, among other factors. The findings of the EIA (alongside feedback from stakeholders) have informed our project routing and design, enabling us to avoid, minimise, or mitigate negative impacts. We continue to engage with environmental stakeholders to gather feedback and incorporate it into our planning and mitigation strategies.
During our stage 2 consultation the initial findings of the environmental assessment are presented in our Preliminary environmental information report (PEIR). You can see it, and its non-technical summary, on our Document library.
As part of our stage 2 consultation, we’re seeking your views on our assessment, and feedback received will inform the final Environmental Statement (ES) submitted as part of the DCO application.
Local communities and the environment
The huge growth in offshore wind, interconnectors, solar and nuclear power, will all generate more electricity than the networks are currently able transport. The Electricity System Operator’s ‘Beyond 2030’ report recognises the need for networks to be delivered at pace and is an important step in unlocking a more affordable and resilient decarbonised electricity system in the UK.
We are mindful that there are several energy projects likely to be under development and construction at the same time. Some of those already have contracts to connect to the electricity transmission network. Others, and some of the proposals in 'Beyond 2030', are at a very early stage and don't have agreements to connect yet, or work has yet to be undertaken to look at all the options.
We will liaise closely with other major infrastructure projects in the area, as and when those come forward, to understand how our proposals interact. We are committed to exploring opportunities to coordinate and minimise potential impacts on local communities and the environment. We will also work with others and key stakeholders such as relevant local councils to ensure works are coordinated as much as possible.
Electricity demand in Britain is forecast to at least double by 2050, increasing the amount of energy we need to transport to homes and businesses. The existing transmission system - the infrastructure including pylons, overhead lines and underground cables which transports electricity around the country - was largely built in the 1960s. It was not designed to transport electricity from where it is increasingly being generated today - offshore and from solar.
As we seek to invest in our electricity transmission network, Lincolnshire is at a critical location to support two key network reinforcement requirements, including:
- Reinforcing boundaries – We need to enhance the capability of the electricity transmission system between the North and the Midlands, and between the Midlands and the South. Lincolnshire is a critical corridor for these transmission routes, facilitating the movement of electricity from renewable sources in the North to demand centres in the South.
- Connecting local energy generation - Lincolnshire's proximity to the North Sea makes it a strategic location for connecting offshore wind farms to the national grid. The region is seeing significant investments in renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind, which necessitates upgrades to the grid to handle the increased capacity.
About National Grid
National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system, connecting millions of people and businesses to the energy they use every day. We bring energy to life – in the heat, light and power we bring to our customer’s homes and businesses; in the way that we support our communities and help them to grow; and in the way we show up in the world. It is our vision to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future.
Within the National Grid Group there are distinctly separate legal entities, each with their individual responsibilities and roles. More information on National Grid can be found here.
National Grid Electricity Transmission, owns, maintains and operates the high voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. This network operates primarily at 400 kilovolts (kv) and 275 kV.
National Grid funds new projects such as power transmission lines through an agreement with Ofgem. They pay upfront costs, which are gradually passed to customers over 40 years, easing the burden on electricity bills. Investors support National Grid, expecting profits and eventual repayment. This spreads the investment cost over years, to avoid sudden bill spikes.