The four-year contract will see Balfour responsible for the civil engineering and installation of 68 kilometres of high voltage cabling across Lincolnshire connecting Denmark to Great Britain at National Grid’s Bicker Fen substation.

The completed project will form part of the wider 765 kilometres Viking Link which will supply sustainable electricity for 1.4m homes in Great Britain.

Ian Currie, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission and Distribution business said: “We are delighted to be contributing to this landmark project which will support the Government’s carbon reduction target and provide numerous homes across Great Britain with access to sustainable electricity.

“Our expert teams have years of experience and in-depth knowledge in delivering complex high voltage cabling projects and we look forward to providing National Grid and Energinet with a comprehensive solution which will ensure safe and efficient delivery.”

Mike Elmer, Viking Link Project Director for National Grid Ventures said: “This contract is a major milestone in the next part of the project. We’re pleased to be working with Balfour Beatty, who will deliver the onshore cable installation section of the Viking Link Interconnector between landfall site at Sandilands and the Converter Station at Bicker Fen.

“Viking Link will enable Great Britain to import and export electricity; provide a secure supply of affordable electricity and play a vital role in helping to decarbonise the UK’s power supply on our journey to a net zero carbon energy system.”

Works are due to start in January with completion scheduled for the end of 2023.

At peak construction Balfour Beatty will employ a workforce of 160 including two apprentices.