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UK-Belgium HVDC link moves closer
- 9 years ago (2015-02-27)
- Junior Isles
UK transmission grid operator National Grid and Elia, the Belgian electricity transmission system operator, will today sign a joint venture agreement to move ahead with the Nemo Link – the first electricity interconnector between the two countries. The interconnector is planned to go live in 2019.
When completed the interconnector will provide 1000 MW of capacity – enough to power half a million homes. The link will run 140 km between Richborough on the Kent coast and Herdersbrug, near Zeebrugge with a combination of undersea and underground cables. Electricity will flow in either direction between the two countries.
Britain’s Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “Better electricity links to our neighbours help to guarantee our energy security at the lowest possible cost to bill payers and means we can use renewable electricity more effectively, allowing excess generation to be exported. This new interconnector will increase the amount of capacity available through interconnectors by 25 per cent.
“Nemo Link is not only an important interconnector in its own right, it also demonstrates that the new ‘cap and floor’ regime can help support new investment while protecting consumers.”
Francois Cornelis, Chief Executive of Elia said: “Building high-capacity lines, interconnecting grids and fostering mutual Member States support are of utmost importance, not only to help Belgium reaching adequacy between generation and demand but also to make the electricity market competition a reality in Europe”
The Nemo Link will provide a third interconnector between UK and Europe, helping to further integrate the Europe-wide internal energy market. Britain was this week identified by the European Commission as one of 12 member states that do not have enough connection to the rest of the EU electricity market.
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Engineering design work and site preparation for the Nemo link should begin later in the year.