National Grid Submits Application for 138km Sea Link Project to Boost UK Electricity Grid Capacity and Energy Security

National Grid has applied for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Sea Link project, a 138km electricity connection from Pegwell Bay in Kent to Suffolk. This project, part of the Great Grid Upgrade, aims to increase electricity capacity and support renewable energy integration. The Planning Inspectorate will review the application. Sea Link addresses grid insufficiency, where the National Energy System Operator (NESO) compensates wind power plants to reduce output. The Great Grid Upgrade, announced in April 2023, includes 17 projects and a £16 billion investment between 2021-2026. It also involves a 184km transmission reinforcement between Norwich and Tilbury. The project supports the government's goal of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, with 60% of offshore wind projects landing on the East Coast.