What is the primary purpose of the Western Link 2 interconnector?

The primary purpose is to transport up to 2 GW of clean electricity, largely generated by offshore wind farms in Scotland, down to high-demand areas in England and Wales. This helps balance the national grid and reduces the need to curtail wind generation during periods of high output.

Why is a public consultation being held in North Wales?

The consultation is necessary because the subsea cables must come ashore (landfall) in North Wales, requiring the construction of large converter stations to transition the electricity from direct current (DC) back to alternating current (AC) for the local grid. National Grid seeks to mitigate local environmental, visual, and community impacts through public feedback.

How does this project fit into the broader European energy transition?

Western Link 2 is representative of a broader European trend where transmission system operators are investing heavily in subsea HVDC technology to link remote offshore renewable resources with industrial and urban centers, bypassing congested onshore grids.

Offshore Energy · June 24, 2026 (Jun 24) · 1 min read

Public feedback to help minimize impacts of new 2 GW Scotland-Wales interconnector

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

The UK National Grid has initiated a crucial public consultation phase in North Wales for the Western Link 2 project, a proposed 2 GW subsea electricity superhighway. This high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector is designed to transmit massive volumes of Scottish wind energy directly to demand centers in England and Wales. The development highlights the growing logistical and social challenges of upgrading onshore grid infrastructure to support offshore renewable integration.

Key Facts

The UK National Grid has launched a public consultation in North Wales to gather community feedback on the Western Link 2 project.
The proposed subsea interconnector will have a transmission capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW), operating via high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology.
The project aims to link renewable energy generation in Scotland directly to major demand centers in Wales and England.
The consultation focuses on minimizing the environmental and onshore community impacts of the converter stations and cable landfall points in North Wales.
This infrastructure is part of the UK's broader 'Great Grid Upgrade', which represents the largest overhaul of the electricity transmission network in generations.

Background & Context

The UK's rapid expansion of offshore wind farms in the North Sea and Scottish waters has created a structural bottleneck in the national grid. Historically, the transmission network was designed for centralized fossil-fuel power plants located close to major cities, rather than remote northern offshore generation. To prevent wasting excess wind energy—a process known as curtailment—the UK requires massive subsea HVDC bypass routes like the Western Link to transport power southward without overloading existing onshore lines.

Market Impact

This project is a critical enabler for the UK's decarbonization targets, directly facilitating the integration of offshore wind into the national energy mix. By reducing curtailment payments—where wind operators are paid to turn off turbines due to grid congestion—the interconnector will ultimately lower costs for energy consumers. However, the onshore landing infrastructure faces localized opposition, making early public engagement essential to avoid costly planning delays and legal challenges that have plagued similar European grid projects.

What to Watch

Following the conclusion of this public consultation phase, National Grid will refine the technical designs and routing options for the North Wales landfall and converter sites. Stakeholders should watch for the submission of formal planning applications in late 2025 or early 2026. The project's progress will serve as a bellwether for the UK's ability to fast-track critical green infrastructure under streamlined planning regimes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary purpose of the Western Link 2 interconnector?: The primary purpose is to transport up to 2 GW of clean electricity, largely generated by offshore wind farms in Scotland, down to high-demand areas in England and Wales. This helps balance the national grid and reduces the need to curtail wind generation during periods of high output.
Why is a public consultation being held in North Wales?: The consultation is necessary because the subsea cables must come ashore (landfall) in North Wales, requiring the construction of large converter stations to transition the electricity from direct current (DC) back to alternating current (AC) for the local grid. National Grid seeks to mitigate local environmental, visual, and community impacts through public feedback.
How does this project fit into the broader European energy transition?: Western Link 2 is representative of a broader European trend where transmission system operators are investing heavily in subsea HVDC technology to link remote offshore renewable resources with industrial and urban centers, bypassing congested onshore grids.

Read on Offshore Energy