UK, England / Wales: National Grid has announced a $10.5 B (£8 B) Electricity Transmission Partnership (ETP) to accelerate delivery of substation infrastructure across England and Wales. The initiative forms a cornerstone of National Grid’s broader $46 B (£35 B) RIIO-T3 investment plan, aimed at modernising the transmission network and supporting the UK’s transition to clean energy.
The ETP introduces a long-term, regional delivery model designed to give supply chain partners the certainty to invest in capacity, skills, and innovation. It awards regional exclusivity to suppliers based on performance and commitment to building capability, with approximately 130 substation projects expected to be awarded over the next five years.
Alice Delahunty, president of National Grid Electricity Transmission, said: “Our Electricity Transmission Partnership marks a bold shift in how we deliver vital electricity infrastructure. By adopting a regional, long term approach, we are giving our supply chain the certainty to invest in people, skills and innovation. It is a key step in turning our RIIO-T3 investment ambitions into action and building a resilient grid to support Britain’s clean energy future.”
The partnership includes Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Murphy, M Group Energy, and the OTW joint venture as regional delivery partners, while Linxon and Burns & McDonnell will serve nationally.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks added: “The clean energy transition is the economic opportunity of the 21st century, with the potential to revitalise our industrial heartlands with skilled jobs and economic growth. This £8 B partnership from National Grid is proof of that – providing a boost for Britain’s supply chains, investing in the future of our highly skilled workforce and helping to deliver clean, homegrown power that we control.”
The ETP complements other National Grid initiatives such as the Great Grid Partnership and HVDC supply chain framework, collectively aimed at reinforcing infrastructure resilience.
Tony Wilson of Balfour Beatty called the ETP a “bold and timely step,” while other partners echoed the partnership’s strategic importance for clean energy and regional economic development.
Source: National Grid
