Application for Early Construction Funding for Eastern Green Link 3

Consultation description

We are consulting on our minded-to position on the Early Construction Funding (ECF) application submitted jointly by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (NGET) and Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHET) for the Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL3) project, as governed by the licensees' electricity transmission licences and Special Condition 3.21 ‘Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment Re-opener and Price Control Deliverable term (ASTIRt)’. The application seeks funding for strategic land purchases, early enabling works and early procurement commitments to support the accelerated delivery of EGL3. EGL3 is a 2GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity transmission link between Peterhead in Scotland and Walpole in Norfolk, England. This document outlines the scope, purpose, and questions of the consultation and how you can get involved. Once the consultation is closed, we will consider all responses.

The purpose of ECF is to enable certain permitted early construction activities to take place ahead of the projects receiving planning consents and being fully finalised. Ofgem are not involved in planning decisions, and the award of ECF does not influence, nor should it be taken to assume, the outcome of any relevant planning processes. Stakeholders are therefore encouraged to engage directly with the planning process, which remains the appropriate forum for commenting on project design or scope.

Our ECF decisions are designed to strike the right balance between enabling projects to progress at pace, where doing so is in the consumer's interest, and protecting consumers from disproportionate exposure to irrecoverable costs in the unlikely scenario that a project does not proceed as planned.

Who should respond

We would like views from people with an interest in new transmission infrastructure, meeting the net zero challenge, and competition in onshore transmission networks.

We particularly welcome responses from consumer groups, stakeholders impacted by the projects, stakeholders with an interest in the costs of electricity transmission infrastructure, and transmission owners. We would also welcome responses from other stakeholders and the public.

How to respond

Submit your response by 30 November by emailing Transmission.Acceleration@ofgem.gov.uk.