List of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom
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
editDuring 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]
International links
editPer the below list, the United Kingdom has as of 2023[update] 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 |  Bonningues-lès-Calais |
73 | ±270 | 2,000 | 1986 | submarine HVDC |
| BritNed | National Grid Interconnectors and TenneT | Isle of Grain |  Maasvlakte |
260 | 450 | 1,000 | 2011 | submarine HVDC |
| East–West Interconnector | EirGrid Interconnector Designated Activity Company | Shotton, Flintshire |  Rush, Dublin |
261 | ±200 | 500 | 2012 | submarine HVDC |
| Nemo Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Elia | Richborough |  Zeebrugge |
140 | 400 | 1,000 | 2019 | submarine HVDC |
| IFA-2 | National Grid Interconnectors and RTE | Lee-on-the-Solent | Tourbe, France |
204 | ±320 | 1,000 | 2021 | submarine HVDC |
| North Sea Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Statnett | Blyth, Northumberland |  Kvilldal |
720 | ±515 | 1,400 | 2021 | submarine HVDC |
| ElecLink | Getlink | Folkestone | Peuplingues |
51 | ±320 | 1,000 | 2022 | Channel Tunnel HVDC |
| Viking Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Energinet | Bicker Fen |  Revsing, Jutland |
765 | 525 | 1,400 | 2023 | submarine HVDC |
| Greenlink | Element Power & Partners Group | Pembroke | Great Island |
190 | 320 | 500 | 2024 (planned) | submarine HVDC |
| NeuConnect | Meridiam, Allianz and Kansai Electric Power | Isle of Grain |  Wilhelmshaven |
725 | 525 | 1,400 | 2028 (planned) | submarine HVDC |
| Gridlink Interconnector | GridLink Interconnector Ltd | Kingsnorth | Warande |
140 | 525 | 1,400 | 2027 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project | Xlinks Ltd | Alverdiscott |  Tan-Tan |
3,800 | ±(TBD) | 3,600 | 2029 (proposed) | submarine, dual HVDC |
| FAB Link | RTE and FAB Link Limited | Exeter Airport | L'Étang-Bertrand (lieu-dit Menuel) |
220 | ±320 | 1,250 | 2030/31 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| AQUIND | AQUIND Limited | Lovedean | Barnabos
|
240 | ±320 | 2,000 | 2026 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| LionLink[5] | National Grid Ventures and TenneT | TBD. Most likely:
Friston, Suffolk or Walberswick[6] |
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] |
TBD
|
TBD | TBD | 1,400 | 2028
(proposed)[9] |
submarine HVDC
with ability to connect to offshore wind farms |
National links
editPer the below list, the United Kingdom has, as of 2023[update], 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
edit
References
edit- ^ "Drax Electric Insights". Drax Electric Insights. Drax Group. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ "northsealink". northsealink.com. North Sea Link. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
- ^ 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)
- ^ a b "Interconnectors". ofgem.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01.
- ^ "LionLink | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ "LionLink consultation materials | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ 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) - ^ a b "About Nautilus | National Grid Group". www.nationalgrid.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ "Nautilus". www.elia.be. Retrieved 2024-02-04.