National Grid is launching the Great Grid Upgrade Partnership, an opportunity for supply chain partners to contribute to the largest grid overhaul in generations. The initiative aims to deliver a major electricity transmission infrastructure program worth £4.5 billion ($5.61 billion) by 2030.
The program will focus on nine onshore projects across England and Wales, essential for moving clean energy from generation to consumption, helping the UK meet its net zero goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
National Grid is seeking two design and consenting service partners, as well as four to six construction partners, to join the partnership and deliver the required infrastructure, including new overhead lines and substations. The partnership demonstrates National Grid’s commitment to invest in jobs, skills, and the energy transition. The UK government estimates that investment in onshore network infrastructure could support up to 130,000 jobs and contribute £4-11 billion ($4.99-13.72 billion) to the economy by 2050.
The partnership approach aims to promote integrated planning and collaboration between projects, combining the supply chain’s capacity, capability, knowledge, and experience. This will accelerate delivery, improve cost efficiencies, and provide value for money to consumers while fostering positive relationships with local communities.
“The government ambition of 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030 demands unprecedented scale and complexity of action,” Matt Staley, Director of Onshore Delivery at National Grid, said.
“It is essential that we unite as a sector and as an industry to rise to this challenge. In our Great Grid Upgrade Partnership we are looking for supply chain partners with a history of successful collaboration, innovation, sustainable practice and commitment to responsible business. By taking a partnership approach, we aim to deliver integrated planning and working between projects, enabling the supply chain to accelerate delivery and deliver cost efficiencies – in turn delivering value for money for consumers and working with local communities to leave a positive legacy.
“By working together we can connect more clean, renewable energy from where it’s generated out at sea to where it’s needed, helping contribute to lower energy bills over the long-term, providing a catalyst for a green jobs boom and making the UK’s energy more self-sufficient.”
