UK power superhighway first HVDC cable to use 100% recycled copper

July 2, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

The Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) power superhighway in the UK is the first high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable that will use 100% recycled copper, Prysmian, the project’s cable supplier, reported.

Developed by a joint venture of SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, EGL2 involves the installation of a 2 GW HVDC subsea cable connecting Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in Yorkshire. Project construction started in September 2024, with the link expected to be completed in 2029.

It is described as the UK’s biggest electricity transmission project in construction, spanning a distance of 505 kilometers.

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Prysmian, responsible for the manufacturing and installation of the cables, reported it will use 100% recycled copper for the project, delivered by its copper rod supplier La Farga Yourcoppersolutions.

The Italian firm will use approximately 10,000 tons of La Farga’s GENIUS recycled copper, with EGL2 expecting to avoid nearly 56,675 tons of CO2 eq emissions compared to the use of conventional primary copper. 

“Aligned with the EGL2 project’s sustainability goals, and in acting responsibly with the in-demand material, using recycled copper is essential. As a result, the project will set the standard as the first high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable that will use 100% recycled copper supported by an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) provided by La Farga, ensuring full traceability of the recycled material in EGL2 cables. EPD guarantees that the 10,000 tons of recycled copper are entirely contained within the rod supplied to Prysmian, unlike a mass balance approach, where it cannot be certified,” Prysmian reported.

The approach is estimated to deliver a 13% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of Prysmian’s scope of activities within the project.

Purchasing the recycled copper has been enabled by the Sustainability Innovation Fund (SIF), awarded to the project by Ofgem.