Six companies have won the converter engineering deal, and three companies have included cable engineering as part of the UK's energy future $79 billion (£ 59 billion) supply chain upgrade.

UK: State Grid has awarded a $16 billion (£ 12 billion) contract for high-voltage direct current transmission civil engineering, marking the final stage of its $79 billion (£ 59 billion) supply chain framework. These agreements are part of a major power grid upgrade aimed at expanding and modernizing the UK power grid.

Six companies - Baofu Group, BAM Nuttall, Galliford Try, Laing O'Rourke, Skanska, and Taylor Woodrow - have been selected for the high-voltage direct current converter project under Section 1, valued at approximately $12.2 billion (£ 9.07 billion). The other three companies, Baofu Group, Murphy, and Volcker Fitzpatrick, will handle the high-voltage direct current onshore cable project under Section 2, estimated to be worth $5 billion (£ 3.7 billion).

The contract is valid for five years and can be extended for an additional three years. The projects covered include Eastern Green Link 4, developed in collaboration with SP Energy Network, and LionLink, developed in collaboration with TenneT. The first tender will be used for the shared southern project required for the East Green Connection Lines 3 and 4.

State Grid stated that these transactions will help strengthen the supply chain, open up the market to new entrants, and expand the UK manufacturing industry. Sumitomo Corporation is an example, as it has built its first high-voltage direct current cable manufacturing facility in the UK in over 20 years.

The company leaders stated that these investments will support employment, promote regional supply chains, and ensure that the UK is prepared to meet the growing demand for electricity through a safer and low-carbon grid.