National Grid awards HVDC supply chain framework contracts

Launched in 2023, the HVDC supply chain framework aims to establish long-term, strategic, contractual relationships and secure the critical equipment needed for current and future projects.

The announcement sees six HVDC cable suppliers being awarded positions on the Framework Agreement totalling approximately £21.3bn and four suppliers being awarded places on the HVDC Converter Framework, totalling approximately £24.6bn. Both Frameworks cover both confirmed and anticipated projects. 

The successful HVDC cable suppliers are Hellenic & Jan De Nul Consortium, LS Cable & System, NKT Cables, Prysmian Group, Sumitomo Electric and Taihan Cable & Solution. The HVDC converter systems Framework has been awarded to GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Mitsubishi Electric and Siemens Energy. Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years. 

Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid, said: “This is another exciting milestone in delivering the greatest overhaul of the grid in a generation – The Great Grid Upgrade. We are committed to building the infrastructure that will enable our country's current and future energy needs, at pace. This framework allows us to harness National Grid’s scale to access global supply chains, drive efficiencies, foster innovative technologies and contribute to the UK’s economic prosperity.”

Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, said: “National Grid is already the largest operator of subsea power cables in the world, the majority of which we delivered in the last six years. 

“World record-breaking sites like Viking Link and pioneering projects like LionLink need an ambitious approach for every aspect of their delivery, including with our suppliers. Today’s announcement is an important step which strengthens our supply chain. It ensures we can develop and deliver innovative international projects in a timely manner and boosts energy security with confidence.”  

Delivering the necessary infrastructure to enable the energy transition will boost security of supply, drive economic growth and create thousands of new jobs. 

Suppliers on the framework will support the delivery of early projects including Eastern Green Link 4, Sealink, Lionlink and other projects of a similar size and nature.

Neil Beardsmore, Executive Global Commercial leader for HVDC at GE Vernova said: “Electrification is the cornerstone of a net-zero future and, at GE Vernova, we are committed to accelerating this transition by delivering integrated solutions that enable large-scale electrification. As global energy demand rises and grids face unprecedented challenges, we are focused on helping our customers build a more resilient, secure, and decarbonised energy ecosystem.” 

Kostas Savvakis, General Manager, Hellenic Cables, stated: “This agreement strengthens our commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition and offshore wind ambitions. We are proud to be part of this critical framework, providing world-class HVDC cable solutions.”

Wouter Vermeersch, Director Subsea Cables at Jan De Nul, stated: “We are proud to partner with National Grid through this framework for strategic HVDC interconnections. The agreement confirms our position as World Builders of the energy transition through providing vital power cable links.”

Niklas Persson, EVP Hitachi Energy, said: “We are proud to be part of this framework agreement and look forward to continuing to be a partner of choice for National Grid, together advancing the grid of the future”.

Saldon Lee, President of European Headquarter at LS Cable & System, said: “LS Cable & System proudly joins National Grid HVDC Framework. As Korea's sole subsea HVDC cable supplier, we are committed to providing our innovative market leading solutions to National Grid to support the UK energy transition.”

Shunji Kurita, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. said: “Mitsubishi Electric looks forward to working with National Grid and associated TSOs to develop and provide innovative HVDC solutions in support of the UK’s net-zero goals.”

Darren Fennell, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions Karlskrona in NKT, said: “We are excited to reaffirm our close collaboration with National Grid and are ready to deploy our leading HVDC technology to support the further electrification of the UK power grid.” 

Raul Gil, EVP Transmission BU, Prysmian, said: “We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with National Grid. Prysmian has been at the heart of the UK’s energy infrastructure for generations and there has never been a time like now, as we work to enhance Britain’s energy security, and its transition towards net zero.” 

Hauke Jürgensen, Senior Vice President Grid Solutions at Siemens Energy, said: “The growing global demand for transmission capacity is putting increasing pressure on supply chains. This framework agreement is a good step towards creating more planning security.”

Yasuyuki Shibata, Senior Executive Officer of Sumitomo Electric, said: “Sumitomo Electric Industries is delighted to be awarded National Grid's framework contract, and we are looking forward to further contributing to economic growth in the UK whilst meeting the country's ambitious energy transition targets.”

Jongmin Song, CEO of Taihan Cable & Solution, said: "We are honoured to contribute once again to National Grid’s key projects. We are committed to driving innovation and collaboration to support the UKs energy transition."

ENDS

Notes to editors

About National Grid

National Grid sits at the heart of Britain’s energy system. The individual companies in our group run the networks and infrastructure that connect millions of people to the electricity they use every day.

Our regulated businesses own and develop the high voltage electricity transmission (ET) network in England and Wales, and the electricity distribution (ED) network in the Midlands, Southwest England and South Wales. Operating separately from these core regulated units, National Grid Ventures (NGV) focusses on competitive markets, investing in energy projects, technologies, and partnerships such as electricity interconnectors.

We bring energy to life, with an ambition to serve our customers well, support the communities in which we operate, and make possible a clean, affordable, and resilient energy network of the future.

Facts about our networks in England and Wales:

• Our transmission network takes electricity generated from different power sources and carries it at high voltage via our 7,000km of overhead line, 700km of underground cable and over 300 substations.
• Our distribution network delivers electricity at lower voltage from our transmission network to where it’s needed in the regions we serve, via 60,000 miles of overhead line and 83,900 miles of underground cable.
• National Grid does not buy or sell energy. The National Grid transmission network represents around £20 per household, per year on their energy bill. Our distribution network contributes around £100 to the average annual energy bill in the areas in which it operates. 

Find out more on our website about the difference between our networks.