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National Grid has completed the award of its HVDC civil works supply chain framework, with £12 billion ($16.1 billion) worth of agreements confirmed.
The announcement marks the third and final stage of the utility giant’s £59 billion ($79.1 billion) supply chain framework awards. It follows their March announcement of two contracts valuing £45.9 billion ($59.4 billion at the time) under the framework.
With the announcement, a total of six HVDC converter civil works suppliers have been awarded positions on Lot 1 of the Framework Agreement totalling approximately £9.07 billion ($12.7 billion).
In addition, three HVDC onshore cable civil works suppliers are being awarded places on Lot 2 of the Framework, worth an estimated £3.7 billion (approximately $5 billion).
The successful HVDC converter civils suppliers are Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Taylor Woodrow. The HVDC onshore cable civils Framework has been awarded to Balfour Beatty, Murphy, and VolkerFitzpatrick.
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Contracts have been secured for a five-year period, with the potential to extend for a further three years.
One of the aims of the HVDC frameworks was to strengthen and broaden National Grid’s supply chain, encouraging new market entrants to increase manufacturing capacity. One example of this is Sumitomo, who is building new HVDC cable manufacturing facilities in the UK for the first time in over 20 years.
Commenting in a release was Zac Richardson, chief engineer and offshore delivery director of Strategic Infrastructure at National Grid: “This marks a major step forward in delivering the UK’s future energy network.
“By building strategic, long-term partnerships with leading UK-based contractors, we’re ensuring the UK is ready to meet the growing demand for electricity with a resilient and modern network.
Said Gareth Burden, construction director of National Grid’s LionLink project: “Awarding these HVDC agreements is essential to strengthen our supply chain for our future projects.
“Today’s announcement ensures we are well placed to progress LionLink and deliver the vital energy infrastructure the nation needs to be more energy secure, whilst lowering household energy bills.”
Both Frameworks cover confirmed and anticipated projects, including Eastern Green Link 4, in partnership with SP Energy Networks and LionLink in partnership with TenneT.
The first tender under the new HVDC civils framework will shortly be underway for the shared southern works required for Eastern Green Link 3 and Eastern Green Link 4.
