List of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom including some under construction or proposed.

The rise of UK interconnection

During 2021 interconnectors provided 28TWh of electricity to the UK, which equates to 10% of total demand, whilst in 2009 this figure was 7TWh.[1]

Interconnectors allow the trade of electricity between countries with excess renewable generation and those with high demand. Interconnectors play a key part in balancing variable renewable generation, for example the North Sea Link allows the UK to export excess power to Norway during windy periods to conserve Norwegian hydro stocks and import Norwegian hydro power on less windy days.[2]

During 2022 the UK exported record amounts of power to mainland Europe, helping to alleviate the effects of the war in Ukraine on European security of supply.[3]

Per the below list the United Kingdom has as of 2023 an international interconnector capacity of 7,900 MW.[4]

Name Developers Substation UK Substation 2 Length (km) Voltage (kV) Power (MW) Operational Remarks
HVDC Cross-ChannelNational Grid Interconnectors and RTESellindgeFrance Bonningues-lès-Calais73±2702,0001986submarine HVDC
BritNedNational Grid Interconnectors and TenneTIsle of GrainNetherlands Maasvlakte2604501,0002011submarine HVDC
East–West InterconnectorEirGrid Interconnector Designated Activity CompanyShotton, FlintshireRepublic of Ireland Rush, Dublin261±2005002012submarine HVDC
Nemo LinkNational Grid Interconnectors and EliaRichboroughBelgium Zeebrugge1404001,0002019submarine HVDC
IFA-2National Grid Interconnectors and RTELee-on-the-SolentFrance Tourbe, France204±3201,0002021submarine HVDC
North Sea LinkNational Grid Interconnectors and StatnettBlyth, NorthumberlandNorway Kvilldal720±5151,4002021submarine HVDC
ElecLinkGetlinkFolkestoneFrance Peuplingues51±3201,0002022Channel Tunnel HVDC
Viking LinkNational Grid Interconnectors and EnerginetBicker FenDenmark Revsing, Jutland7655251,400 (Operating at 800 due to the West Jutland grid needing upgrades before full utilisation can be achieved.)[5]2023 submarine HVDC
GreenlinkElement Power & Partners GroupPembrokeRepublic of Ireland Great Island1903205002024 (planned)submarine HVDC
NeuConnectMeridiam, Allianz and Kansai Electric PowerIsle of GrainGermany Wilhelmshaven7255251,4002028 (planned)submarine HVDC
Gridlink InterconnectorGridLink Interconnector LtdKingsnorthFrance Warande1405251,4002027 (proposed)submarine HVDC
Xlinks Morocco-UK Power ProjectXlinks LtdAlverdiscottMorocco Tan-Tan 3,800±(TBD)3,6002029 (proposed)submarine, dual HVDC
FAB LinkRTE and FAB Link LimitedExeter AirportFrance L'Étang-Bertrand (lieu-dit Menuel)220±3201,2502030/31 (proposed)submarine HVDC
AQUIND AQUIND Limited Lovedean France Barnabos 240 ±320 2,000 2026 (proposed) submarine HVDC

Per the below list the United Kingdom has as of 2023 a national interconnector capacity of 3,950 MW.[4]

Name Developers Substation 1 Substation 2 Length (km) Voltage (kV) Power (MW) Operational Remarks
Moyle InterconnectorMutual EnergyAuchencrosh, South AyrshireBallycronan More63.52505002001submarine HVDC
Caithness - Moray LinkScottish & Southern Electricity NetworksCaithnessMoray1603201,2002019submarine HVDC
Western HVDC LinkNational Grid plc and ScottishPower TransmissionHunterstonFlintshire Bridge4226002,2502019submarine HVDC
Shetland HVDC ConnectionScottish Hydro Electric TransmissionUpper Kergord Valley, ShetlandCaithness HVDC switching station, near Wick2603206002024 (planned)submarine HVDC

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Drax Electric Insights". Drax Electric Insights. Drax Group. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  2. ↑ "northsealink". northsealink.com. North Sea Link. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  3. ↑ Gosden, Emily (2022-12-29). "Electricity exports to Europe soar as wind and solar power increase". The Times. Archived from the original on 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.(subscription required)
  4. 1 2 "Interconnectors". ofgem.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01.
  5. ↑ Paleja, Ameya (2023-12-19). "World's largest electric cable close to power, could light 1.4 million homes". interestingengineering.com. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
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