A new submarine power cable to France has been launched that will be able to provide enough zero-carbon electricity for one million UK homes, National Grid has said
The 149 mile « interconnector » that runs along the seabed between Portsmouth, Hampshire and near Caen, Normandy, is « live » allowing electricity to pass through the cable for the purpose of test before commissioning
This is the fourth submarine interconnection to the continent and the second to France, and will allow the sharing of surplus clean energy between the two countries, said the operator of the network
National Grid is also developing cables along the seabed to Denmark to access wind power, as well as Norway, to connect to hydroelectric power sources
The company said that by 2024, its interconnection portfolio will provide enough zero-carbon energy to power eight million homes per year, thus avoiding a total of 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030
As the UK expands its offshore wind farms, the interconnections will also allow Britain to sell excess renewable energy to other countries
The latest cable, known as IFA2, is expected to supply 12% of Britain’s electricity needs, and by the end of its first year of operation it will have saved 12% million tonnes of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere by supplying electricity from France’s nuclear fleet, National Grid said
The £ 700million joint project with French operator RTE stayed on schedule and on budget despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the company added
Jon Butterworth, Managing Director of National Grid Ventures, said: “As the world focuses on the pandemic and manages the ripple effects on our lives, we know that progress towards net zero cannot be achieved. allow it to weaken and Britain must maintain momentum to reduce harmful carbon emissions
« The launch of the IFA2 interconnector, connecting the French and British electricity grids, is an important step in accelerating our progress towards a cleaner and greener future »
National Grid plc, Electric cable, IFA-2, Interconnector, Wind, Renewable energy
News from the world – EN – Launch of a new submarine cable providing zero energy carbon from France
