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Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) is a 505km electricity superhighway delivered jointly by SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission, that will run between Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and Drax in North Yorkshire. The project will enable the transfer of electricity between Scotland and England via a subsea cable, increasing the UK’s ability to deliver clean energy to around two million homes.
Following an extensive 18-month planning process, BAM UK & Ireland, responsible for delivering the converter station, and their sub-contractor Cidon Construction, appointed Breedon to supply the concrete for the transformer building’s formwork at Drax, using a mix designed specifically to support a slipform construction method.
Creating a structure of this scale using a vertical slipform construction method introduced significant technical demands, requiring a concrete mix and supply system capable of supporting continuous and consistent pours.
The formwork needed to rise steadily as the structure grew, meaning there could be no delays or interruptions to the concrete supply. The concrete mix also needed to be fast setting, gaining enough early strength to support itself, and the weight of the formwork, as it moved upwards.
BAM UK & Ireland also sought a lower carbon concrete solution to help reduce the overall carbon footprint of the project. This had to be carefully balanced with the strict performance needs of slipform construction.
We collaborated with the BAM UK & Ireland and Cidon Construction teams from the outset to make sure the project could be delivered safely, efficiently and without risk to the project programme.
An extensive programme of mixes was designed and trialled in collaboration with Slipform Engineering Ltd to achieve the right balance of setting time, workability and consistency while still reducing the carbon footprint of the concrete. Each mix underwent testing to confirm slump retention, setting time and strength gain, ensuring it could perform under continuous placement.
In total, we supplied over 2,374m³ of custom designed, lower carbon structural concrete across four continuous threeday pours. The concrete mix incorporated CEMIIA/L to achieve a carbon reduction of 10.4%, compared to standard CEMI concrete mixes.
To ensure continuity of supply throughout the pours, we established a 24-hour production programme, with concrete supplied from our Goole plant, located just five miles from site.
Due to the proximity of the plant and through a just-in-time delivery approach, we were able to maintain a steady supply and avoid truck waiting times. Robust contingency measures were put in place, with two additional plants in Featherstone and Leeds on standby.
Upgrades were made to the plants, including the installation of hot water systems to mitigate cold weather risks and ensure the concrete could be kept at the correct temperature throughout the batching, delivery and placement process.
Constant communication between the plant and the site ensured that the concrete maintained its quality and consistency throughout its journey, with slump tests carried out on each load before discharge.
The project at Drax is ongoing, and we continue to supply materials to support the extensive civils works taking place across the site, including 8,500m³ of concrete through to the end of February 2026.
We are also providing ongoing support and materials for the slipform construction of the transformer buildings, as well as the civils works, at the Peterhead end of the line, with over 2,500m³ of concrete already supplied through the early part of 2026.
bespoke structural concrete
Continuous supply
carbon saved*
*Compared to standard CEMI concrete
