Government gives National Grid’s Yorkshire GREEN project the green light
- Development consent has been granted for a new £400m green electricity project to upgrade the high-voltage power network in North Yorkshire
- New electricity infrastructure is needed across England and Wales to move more clean, green energy from where it is generated to where it is needed
- The project is part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations
- Construction will start in autumn 2024 and is expected to complete by 2028 helping the UK meet its net zero ambitions, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to lower energy bills over the long-term.
In March 2024, the previous Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, granted a development consent order (DCO) for the Yorkshire GREEN Energy Enablement project, meaning National Grid has approval to begin construction to upgrade and reinforce the high-voltage power network between York, North Yorkshire and areas east of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Construction of the £400m project, due to start in autumn 2024, will allow more renewable and low-carbon energy to move onto the electricity grid and into homes and businesses, both in Yorkshire and further afield. This will help deliver the government’s net zero targets as well as enable a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient energy system.
Yorkshire GREEN is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, and the first of seven onshore projects proposed by National Grid across England and Wales required to be consented through a DCO and is part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework established by Ofgem.
National Grid has engaged with communities and local stakeholders on the project since 2020, including two rounds of public consultation and further localised targeted consultations.
Feedback from local stakeholders, communities and wider consultees has helped shape the project, and National Grid are committed to continuing this engagement as we work to ensure the project leaves a lasting legacy in its host communities.
Matt Staley, Onshore Delivery Director for National Grid said: "I am delighted after months of consideration the Government has granted development consent to build Yorkshire GREEN. This marks a major milestone for The Great Grid Upgrade, and as the first project to have been given consent to begin construction, it will help the UK to meet its net zero and energy security ambitions, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to lower energy bills over the long-term.
"I would like to thank the local community and our stakeholders in Yorkshire for their feedback in shaping our plans and we will continue to work closely with them as the project moves forward."
Morrison Energy Services has been selected to deliver the new overhead line and existing overhead line refurbishment, Murphy will deliver two new substations in Overton and Monk Fryston, and Hyosung and Hyundai will supply transformers to the substations.
For more information, maps and plans please visit the Yorkshire GREEN website, which you can find here.
