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List of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom

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The following is a list of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom, including some under construction or proposed.

The rise of UK interconnection

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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 Russian invasion of Ukraine on European security of supply.[3]

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Per the below list, the United Kingdom has as of 2023 an international interconnector capacity of 9,700 MW.[4]

Name Developers Substation UK Substation 2 Length (km) Voltage (kV) Power (MW) Operational Remarks
HVDC Cross-Channel National Grid Interconnectors and RTE Sellindge France Bonningues-lès-Calais 73 ±270 2,000 1986 submarine HVDC
BritNed National Grid Interconnectors and TenneT Isle of Grain Netherlands Maasvlakte 260 450 1,000 2011 submarine HVDC
East–West Interconnector EirGrid Interconnector Designated Activity Company Shotton, Flintshire Republic of Ireland Rush, Dublin 261 ±200 500 2012 submarine HVDC
Nemo Link National Grid Interconnectors and Elia Richborough Belgium Zeebrugge 140 400 1,000 2019 submarine HVDC
IFA-2 National Grid Interconnectors and RTE Lee-on-the-Solent France Tourbe, France 204 ±320 1,000 2021 submarine HVDC
North Sea Link National Grid Interconnectors and Statnett Blyth, Northumberland Norway Kvilldal 720 ±515 1,400 2021 submarine HVDC
ElecLink Getlink Folkestone France Peuplingues 51 ±320 1,000 2022 Channel Tunnel HVDC
Viking Link National Grid Interconnectors and Energinet Bicker Fen Denmark Revsing, Jutland 765 525 1,400 2023 submarine HVDC
Greenlink Element Power & Partners Group Pembroke Republic of Ireland Great Island 190 320 500 2024 (planned) submarine HVDC
NeuConnect Meridiam, Allianz and Kansai Electric Power Isle of Grain Germany Wilhelmshaven 725 525 1,400 2028 (planned) submarine HVDC
Gridlink Interconnector GridLink Interconnector Ltd Kingsnorth France Warande 140 525 1,400 2027 (proposed) submarine HVDC
Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project Xlinks Ltd Alverdiscott Morocco Tan-Tan 3,800 ±(TBD) 3,600 2029 (proposed) submarine, dual HVDC
FAB Link RTE and FAB Link Limited Exeter Airport France L'Étang-Bertrand (lieu-dit Menuel) 220 ±320 1,250 2030/31 (proposed) submarine HVDC
AQUIND AQUIND Limited Lovedean France Barnabos 240 ±320 2,000 2026 (proposed) submarine HVDC
LionLink[5] National Grid Ventures and TenneT TBD. Most likely:

Friston, Suffolk or Walberswick[6]

Netherlands TBD TBD TBD 1,800 2030+

(proposed)[7]

submarine HVDC

with ability to connect to offshore wind farms

Nautilus[8] National Grid Ventures and Elia TBD. Most likely:

Friston, Suffolk or Isle of Grain[8]

Belgium TBD TBD TBD 1,400 2028

(proposed)[9]

submarine HVDC

with ability to connect to offshore wind farms

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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 Interconnector Mutual Energy Auchencrosh, South Ayrshire Ballycronan More 63.5 250 500 2001 submarine HVDC
Caithness - Moray Link Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks Caithness Moray 160 320 1,200 2019 submarine HVDC
Western HVDC Link National Grid plc and ScottishPower Transmission Hunterston Flintshire Bridge 422 600 2,250 2019 submarine HVDC
Shetland HVDC Connection Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Upper Kergord Valley, Shetland Caithness HVDC switching station, near Wick 260 320 600 2024 submarine HVDC

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b "Interconnectors". ofgem.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01.
  5. ^ "LionLink | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  6. ^ "LionLink consultation materials | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  7. ^ www.viking-link.com https://www.viking-link.com/news/national-grid-announces-commercial-operations-of-viking-link-the-world-s-longest-land-and-subsea-interconnector/. Retrieved 2024-02-04. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ a b "About Nautilus | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  9. ^ "Nautilus". www.elia.be. Retrieved 2024-02-04.