German construction company Hochtief, controlled by the ACS Group , has been selected by National Grid to participate in the North West London Upgrade program , an initiative to modernize and expand Greater London's electricity transmission network. The project, which will be carried out through the Hochtief-Murphy Joint Venture (HMJV) in collaboration with other project partners, aims to strengthen the British capital's critical infrastructure at a time of rapid growth in energy demand.
The project will increase electricity transmission capacity in northwest London, an area where residential development, business activity, and the growing energy needs linked to digitalization converge. According to Peter Hingott, CEO of Hochtief Infrastructure, the project will help boost local economic growth by facilitating the connection of new data centers while ensuring a reliable supply for homes, businesses, and digital services.
A key project for digitization and data centers
The works to be undertaken by Hochtief include the installation of 60 kilometers of new cable infrastructure , the modernization and expansion of electrical substations, the replacement of overhead lines, and the execution of large-scale works in one of the longest high-voltage cable tunnels in the United Kingdom. These actions will not only increase the network's capacity but will also contribute to improving the security of supply in one of the country's most densely populated urban areas, where underground tunnels are crucial for expanding available power without resorting to new overhead lines that impact the landscape.
Modernizing substations and underground transmission lines is key to integrating new renewable energy generation and meeting high-intensity energy demands. In this respect, the project directly addresses the needs of new hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and other infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence services, whose energy consumption has skyrocketed in recent years, thus preventing renewable energy from being wasted on the electrical grid.
Hochtief already had experience in the British capital thanks to its previous involvement in National Grid's London Power Tunnels 2 program, an initiative aimed at renewing and expanding underground high-voltage power lines. This experience has given the company a thorough understanding of the complexities involved in large urban tunnels, including logistics, safety, interference with other networks, and the need to maintain power supply during construction.
Group strength in infrastructure and sustainability
The new contract reinforces Hochtief's strategy in high-growth markets , such as energy and sustainable infrastructure. The company, which has around 62.000 employees and closed 2025 with sales of €38.200 billion, holds a leading position in several markets. In the United States, it stands out for its green building construction through Turner, while in Australia it is the largest infrastructure services contractor thanks to CIMIC. Its stake in the United States, through FlatironDragados, makes it a key player in transportation and civil engineering, while in Europe it is a leader in civil engineering and building construction.
The company is listed on the German DAX index and is included in sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index, thus aligning itself with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria. Its construction and concessions business is complemented by its 20% stake in Abertis, an international toll road operator. These activities, along with the new contract in London, strengthen Hocht's exposure to the energy transition and the digital economy , two areas that will be essential in the coming decade to meet the growing demand for electricity driven by technological development and the decarbonization of the economy.
In short, the awarding of the North West Upgrade places the company at the heart of a project fundamental to the future of electricity in the British capital, where infrastructure becomes the cornerstone of the connectivity, artificial intelligence, and digital services demanded by citizens and businesses. This undertaking will therefore contribute to laying the foundations for a more robust, modern energy system, better prepared to meet the challenges of the electrification of the economy.
