The Eastern Green Link 2 project will see the longest high-voltage direct current cable in the UK and is the country’s single largest electricity transmission project ever.

Work can now start on the five-year-long mega project next year. When complete in 2029 it will provide enough electricity to power 2m homes.

Substation and converter station construction will begin first, followed by the underground cables. Marine cable installation will start in 2026.

Contractor BAM will work in collaboration with Hitachi Energy to provide the engineering works and technology for two large HVDC converter stations, one at Peterhead and the other near Drax.

These form the terminals for the HVDC cable and convert direct current to the alternating current used in the onshore transmission network.

It is understood the project could be worth up to £700m for BAM alone.

The power link itself consists of 436km of submarine cable and 69km of onshore cable. Prysmian Group is preferred bidder for the specialist HVDC cable element of the scheme.

Sarah Sale, EGL2 deputy project director, said: “We are delighted that our plans for the onshore and offshore elements of our project have been approved by all local planning authorities and marine licencing organisations.

“This renewable electricity superhighway is vital in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero and decarbonisation and we’re thrilled to be making such a significant contribution with the largest electricity transmission reinforcement project in the UK.”