AREVA’s transmission and distribution division, in alliance with Skanska and Mott MacDonald, has signed a preferred partners agreement with National Grid, the owner and operator of the high-voltage transmission network in England and Wales. AREVA T&D and its partners will carry out all upcoming transmission substation projects in the South East region of the United Kingdom over the next five years with the possibility to extend for a further five years. These contracts will be among the largest ever awarded by National Grid.

The AREVA T&D Alliance has been selected as one of six preferred partners for contracts worth over 4 Billion euros (£2.8 bn) that make up a significant part of National Grid’s capital investment in the transmission network. To improve access and planning with local electricity distribution network operators, National Grid has defined four geographic zones to each be placed with preferred partners.

Stephen Burgin, president of AREVA T&D in the UK, said, “AREVA’s substations systems activities in the UK have a proven track record. We are committed to using this experience, coupled with the international knowledge of the AREVA Group, to feed innovative and technical solutions into our Alliance to ensure the security and reliability of National Grid’s transmission network.”

The Alliance agreements are part of a new approach taken by National Grid to upgrade and develop the electricity transmission grid across England and Wales.

These contracts include works required to connect new infrastructures, such as wind farms and newly built power plants to the transmission network and will also contribute to the wider issue of security of supply.